Howe: I'll go to ceremony

Controversy Over Handover Ceremonies

• Cook Says Britain's Interest Won't End on Monday
  
• Tung Promises Elections And Political Freedom
  
• Patten: Hong Kong Citizens "Care About Democracy"
  
• Final Honours For Hong Kong

But there has been disagreement among British representatives. The former Foreign Secretary, Lord Howe who negotiated the return of Hong Kong, has said he will attend the swearing-in of the new, unelected Chinese legislature. Former PM Sir Edward Heath has said he may attend to.

The government has decided to boycott the investiture ceremony.

Lord Howe said he had thought very carefully about whether or not to attend the Chinese ceremony. He had decided to do so, he said, as a gesture of support for Hong Kong's future and to encourage the Territory's new rulers to hold elections within twelve months.

"I want to support and back those who are going to running Hong Kong in the years ahead, and my message we are sending tomorrow will be to underline to the Chinese and to those who will be working with them, that I attach the highest importance to their fulfilment of the pledge to reconstitute the elected Legislative Council as agreed," he said.

Cook: "encouraged" after meeting Tung

Robin Cook says the Government has good reason to stick by their boycott "We are quite clear that on behalf of Britain we do not intend to be present at the swearing in ceremony because there's no way an elected democratic politician can lend legitimacy to the replacement of an elected council with an appointed council."

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 was a "breach" of the Sino-British treaty on Hong Kong.

Tung promises elections for May '98

Tung: Demonstrations will be allowed

Tung: Good Sino-British relationship will help Hong Kong

Earlier the Foreign Secretary had criticised China's decision to move 4,000 troops and armoured personnel carriers just six hours after the handover. Mr Tung has insisted that the troops are only a symbol of China's sovereignty over Hong Kong. But after meeting the Chief Executive designate, Mr Cook said he was "encouraged".

Speaking on the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme, Mr Tung promised that Hongkong's citizens would continue to enjoy political freedom. He said, the territory's basic law guaranteed "freedoms of all forms" and added: "I think demonstration is part of our culture, so peaceful, lawful demonstrations will be permitted.

However he ruled out demonstrations advocating the independence of Taiwan or Tibet. Asked whether criticism of China's leadership would be allowed, Mr Tung said that would depend on the circumstances. But he said there would be no crackdown if demonstrators burnt his effigy.

Mr Tung expressed his hope for improved Sino-British relations, saying they would be beneficial for both Hong Kong and Britain.

Patten: Hong Kong is a success story

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.

The Prince of Wales awarding a knighthood