Governor Chris Patten emphatically reminded us in his Policy Address that 'over the last couple of years we have seen decisions, taken in good faith by the Government of Hong Kong, appealed surreptitiously to Peking - decisions taken in the interests of the whole community lobbied against behind closed doors by those whose personal interests may have been adversely affected'.
In comparison, the Governor also assured us 'anyone who tried to get ministers in London to block or change a policy taken by the Hong Kong Government would have been sent packing'.
Perhaps Mr Patten's special relationship with Whitehall gives him such confidence.
His predecessor would not have been so sure.
We all know what happened when former governor Sir David Wilson was lobbied against behind closed doors in London by those who felt their interests were being adversely affected by the territory's Government.
The one sent packing was the Governor himself.