GOVERNOR Mr Chris Patten has nothing to gain and everything to lose from the talks Britain and China are now close to holding to discuss Hongkong's political development.
There is a sense of deja vu about the whole affair. It has emerged that the deadlock to such talks was broken by an exchange of letters between London and Beijing - all too reminiscent of the way secret deals used to be hatched between the two governments, in the bad old days before the advent of Mr Patten's more open administration.
Foreign Secretary Mr Douglas Hurd apparently wrote to his Chinese counterpart, Mr Qian Qichen, enclosing a copy of the draft bill on the 1995 elections - after it had been passed by the Executive Council - and restating Britain's position that it was happy to hold talks on the territory's political development.
To London's - and, even more so, Hongkong's - surprise, Mr Qian responded by letter suggesting China might agree to talks. Diplomatic contacts began in Beijing to try to work out the details.
Although these talks have yet to lead to an agreement to reopen discussions, despite indications last week that an announcement was imminent, the Foreign Office apparently believes all arrangements have been worked out, and it is simply waiting for China to respond.
The whole thing could still fizzle out in the next few days, of course, but many officials believe that this is highly unlikely.