THE Chief Secretary, Sir David Ford, yesterday expressed hope that China would be prepared to accept the constitutional development package supported by the Legislative Council when the law-making body passes its verdict on the reform plan.
Even if the Legislative Council decided to amend the proposals put forward by the Governor, Mr Chris Patten, Sir David said the administration would feel comfortable to abide by the legislature's judgement and hoped that China was also prepared to accept it.
Speaking at a year-end briefing, Sir David denied that the Government's political blueprint was designed to confront China and he also dismissed suggestion that Britain had changed its policy towards Hongkong.
Commenting on the draft legislation on the electoral arrangements to be tabled to Legco, Sir David said the Government would need to be convinced that there were viable, credible and well-supported alternatives available to the administration if theywere to substantially amend the Governor's proposals.
Sir David conceded that the British side was in a difficult position as China had made it clear that if there were to be a dialogue between the two sides on the constitutional reform plan, the Governor had to abandon his proposals.
''I don't know many people in Hongkong who believe that it's a viable option for the Government to withdraw the proposals which it has put forward to the people of Hongkong,'' he said.