THE Liberal Party has delayed a plan to fly to Beijing tomorrow, due to the pressure of Legislative Council business.

Liberal Party chief Allen Lee Peng-fei said he had been told by Xinhua (the New China News Agency) that a meeting with state leaders had been switched from Tuesday to Wednesday afternoon, coinciding with the Legco session.

Of the members who had planned to go, nine were legislators, Mr Lee said.

He ruled out the possibility the delay was due to the fact that Lu Ping, in charge of Hong Kong affairs, was in hospital, saying the leaders they were to meet 'are higher than Mr Lu [in rank]'.