BEIJING (AP) - China indicated Feb. 18 it will not resume talks with Britain over
the future of Hong Kong until the colony's government abandons a democratic reform
plan.
The last round of negotiations on the British colony's transfer to China in 1997
ended in December with a Chinese threat to boycott future talks unless the proposals
made by Hong Kong governor Chris Patten were dropped.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Li Jianying said at a news conference the reform package
must be abandoned "to resume the cooperation" between the two sides. Recent
rumors that were planted sent Hong Kong's stock market on a roller coaster the past
week.
Beijing opposes Patten's plans, fearing more freedom in Hong Kong will feed dissent
at home.