Britain is 'beating the retreat'

Cook: Britain's Interests in Hong Kong Won't End on Monday

He said Britain would use its clout to defend Hong Kong and its freedoms. He promised that he and the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, would raise the issue with China's top leaders when they meet on Monday.

In an interview with Hong Kong radio, Mr Cook said China's decision to replace the elected legislature of the territory with an unelected one as a "breach" of the Sino-British treaty on Hong Kong.

Cook says he is "encouraged" after meeting Tung

Tung Chee Hwa, who will take over as Hong Kong's Chief Executive, has promised that democratic elections will be held by next May. The Foreign Minister promised that Britain would watch "very carefully" to make sure the elections would be "truly free and fair".

After meeting the Chief Executive designate, Mr Cook said he was "encouraged". Earlier the Foreign Secretary had criticised China's decision to move 4,000 troops, armoured personnel carriers, helicopters and ships into the colony just six hours after the handover. He called the plans "unnecessary and inappropriate".

Mr Tung has tried to calm fears and insisted that the troops were only a symbol of China's sovereignty over Hong Kong

Patten: Hong Kong Citizens "Care About Democracy"

Britain lowers its flag over Hong Kong

Hong Kong is "a great Chinese success story, written - to be fair - within a system of values and British institutions which have encouraged not threatened that success," Patten said in his broadcast, the last in a series he has given during his five years as the 28th and last of Hong Kong's British governors.

Mr Patten said he would miss "pottering around" Hong Kong's crowded streets and markets.

Chinese Officials Will Not Attend British Ceremonies

Tung Chee-hwa will not be present at Britain's farewell ceremony as well. He said he had to greet Chinese leaders at the same time and was quick to reject the idea that this was a snub.