Common interests: Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang says people who serve Hong Kong should be able to serve both the city's and the country's interests.

People who serve Hong Kong should be able to serve both the city's and the country's interests.

This was the message today from Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang who said it is a commonly accepted principle here to have patriots ruling our city.

"When we talk about people serving Hong Kong, they must be able to serve Hong Kong's interests; they must be able to serve national interests; they must not do anything to harm these interests. I am sure that those elected to public office should be able to comply with these requirements," he said.

Mr Tsang also said that legislators are elected under electoral laws, devised according to the Basic Law.

When asked whether those in power are patriotic or not, Mr Tsang said it is for the people to judge at the end of the day.