Rights talks for Rifkind

DEMOCRACY and human rights will top the agenda during British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind's maiden visit to Beijing next month.

He will be accompanied by the new Chinese ambassador to Britain, Jiang Enzhu, on the three-day visit from January 9. Mr Rifkind said China and Britain hoped the transfer of sovereignty would be smooth.

Most problems related to Hong Kong had been solved but there were still some important issues. He hoped that the visit would be as fruitful as that paid by his Chinese counterpart, Qian Qichen, to Britain two months ago.