IT had all the elements for a stirring drama.
In one corner, the Governor, civil servants and an array of Hong Kong notables gathered to celebrate China's National Day with a collection of mainland officials.
In the other, a vocal group of committed demonstrators shouting reminders of the June 4 massacre.
As the motorcade of movers and shakers cruised past the Excelsior Hotel, en route to a Xinhua (New China News Agency)-hosted cocktail reception, protesters unfurled banners and screamed slogans.
But despite urgent heckling, the targets of their anger kept the windows rolled tight and waved the chauffeur on.
After Chris Patten and his party drove past the barricades and into the World Trade Centre - where the reception was held - the protesters, without arriving VIPs to vent their outrage on, dashed to the rear of the building to continue their demonstration.
It was there the 30 protesters, including members of the Democracy Forum and the April 5th Action Group, had the tensest confrontation with some of the 250 police present.