Britannia steams into Hong Kong

Royal Yacht Flies the Flag on Final Voyage

Britannia sailed into Hong Kong harbour flanked by a flotilla of local boats, with two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters circling overhead.

The ship will served as a base for Prince Charles, who will represent the Queen, in run-up to the handover.

In the early hours of July 1st she will leave Hong Kong with Prince Charles and the Governor Chris Patten on board, accompanied by remaining Navy ships and helicopters. The yacht will be decommissioned shortly afterwards.

BBC Correspondent, Matt Frei

Matt Frei reports from Hong Kong on Britain's legacy Dur: 4'12"

As the final preparations for the handover are being made, differences are growing between Hong Kong's incoming and outgoing rulers.

Mr Patten has urged his successor not to behave in an autocratic way, echoing a call made by the Group of Seven most industrialised nations at their summit in Denver.

Mr Patten called on his successor, Tung Chee-hwa, to listen to people's advice. "In Hong Kong, there is no one who has absolute power," he told a Chinese-language newspaper, in an interview marking the end of 156 years of colonial rule.

But Mr Tung has made it clear that new laws restricting the freedom to demonstrate would come into effect on the stroke of midnight on June 30th.

The shipping tycoon has also welcomed China's suggestion to bring in two-thousand troops from the People's Liberation Army earlier than agreed and while Britain is still the sovereign power.

The colony prepares for Chinese rule

After protracted negotiations, Chinese and British negotiators have struck a deal allowing an extra five-hundred troops into Hong Kong a few hours before the colony reverts to China. But the troops will only be armed with rifles and handguns.

The Chinese say the deal will allow the Chinese army to perform its defence duties from the first moment of the new administration.

As part of the preparations for Hong Kong's handover, the colony's elected legislature has begun its final session.

The marathon five-day sitting is expected to tie up loose ends before China takes over and replaces the assembly with the Beijing-appointed Provisional Legislature.

Although thirty members of the current legislature are members of the new body, Hong Kong's largest party, the Democratic Party, is not represented on it.