Tung-che Wha

China Reassures Britain On Colony's Future

Tung Chee Hwa, who'll become the Colony's new Chief Executive after the handover to Chinese rule on Monday night, also promised that there would be limited curbs on the rights of Hong Kong's citizens to hold demonstrations.

Mr Tung's comments came during a meeting this morning with the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook. After the talks, Mr Cook said he was "encouraged".

Hong Kong Correspondent Matt Frei reviews the day's developments (dur 1'50)

Mr Tung has spent the day reassuring the outgoing British. Having announced that he would not be present at Britain's farewell ceremony, because he had to greet Chinese leaders at the same time, he was quick to reject the idea that this was a snub.

Foreign Secretary Robin Cook

When he arrived in Hong Kong, the Foreign Secretary backed Governor Chris Patten's grave reservations over China's decision to move 4,000 troops, armoured personnel carriers, helicopters and ships into the colony just six hours after handover.

Mr Cook said he regretted the "scale at which the initial deployment is being made and in particular we regard the provision of armoured personnel carriers as unnecessary and inappropriate". The Foreign Secretary will raise the controversial decision during talks with the Chinese foreign minister, Qian Qichen, this weekend.

Chinese troops prepare for Hong Kong deployment

Mr Tung's has made efforts to calm fears and insisted that the troops were only a symbol of sovereignty in SRA (Special Administrative Region).

He praised the Chinese soldiers as "a very well disciplined people, a very well disciplined army" and added that once Hong Kong people got to know them "they will be part of our community".

The former stundent of Liverpool University has agreed to hold democratic elections as soon as possible after next week's handover to China. He has pledged to go ahead with elections by May at the latest. And he told Mr Cook he would prefer to hold them earlier if possible.

On the issue of civil rights he told the BBC that "demonstration is part of our culture", and that there would only be a problem if the handover was marred by demonstrations about Taiwan and Tibet.

Mr Cook's meeting with Mr Tung has brought some calm to Sino-British relations after a period where anxiety and tension was growing.

Patten denounces plans

Patten: "I hope they reconsider"

In a thinly veiled criticism of China Mr Patten, who has spent the last week making an emotionally charged farewell-tour of the colony, has spoken out in defence of Hong Kong's love of democracy and freedom to demonstrate. He told the BBC "Freedom and democracy always win at the end of the day."

"You can lock people up - you can lock them away for 14 years, then lock them up for 14 years again - but as we know from what's happened in europe you can't lock up their hearts and souls and you can't snuff out the feeling for liberty and freedom which everybody has."

As Britain makes its final preparations for leaving Hong Kong, Government House has played host for the last time to a reception to mark the Queen's official birthday.

The ceremony was attended by the Prince of Wales and senior British politicians, including Lady Thatcher and Sir Edward Heath.

Paul Reynolds describes the drama and emotion as Britain pulls out (1'25)

The reception ended with a "beating retreat" ceremony given by the Royal Hong Kong Police bands.

Lowering the British Flags