THE Governor continues to say the final decision on the fate of the democracy package rests with the appointed and elected members of the Legislative Council. They have the final vote.
This week any firm outcome of that vote remains impossible to predict as the once undiluted character of the 60-member body continues to fragment along new party lines.
Throughout the debate on the package, the 13 United Democrats and, too a slightly less committed degree, the three Meeting Point legislators, have said they will support Mr Patten's package if it is tabled in Legco.
UDHK legislators are insistent that the Chinese must enunciate their criteria for the through-train before they will vote on the proposals while Meeting Point is less specific. They want to uphold democracy but they also do not want to alienate their future Chinese leaders.
Beyond that, the voting pattern of the Legco factions becomes more difficult. Members of the conservative group, the Liberal Party, will basically agree with whatever is accepted by both parties. They want progress and will sacrifice democracy if it meansa new airport.
They will be supported by the pro-business lobby, led by Ngai Shiu-kit and Lau Wong-fat, and the Beijing-aligned trade unionists who have said they are opposed to the democracy proposals.