NO ONE seems to have noticed yet, but this summer the Legislative Council session will end on July 10 - two weeks earlier than in 1995.
That may not sound terribly important until it is realised that if the same pattern is repeated next year, with the 1996-97 session shortened by a further fortnight, then it will conveniently end on June 25, 1997 - five days before the handover.
At a stroke, Beijing's nightmare would be averted. Mainland officials are clearly aware of the danger that their resumption of sovereignty may be marred by pictures of democratically-elected legislators being thrown out of office.
Governor Chris Patten is already milking this for all it is worth, in an effort to make them change their minds about abolishing the product of his political reforms.
'What sort of smoothness is there going to be in 1997? What sort of solemnity and dignity is there going to be about the handover in 1997 after the Legislative Council have been turfed out?,' he said.
'To have every television camera in the world focused on the placards saying 'Why have we been thrown out of the Legislative Council?' doesn't seem to me to be good for encouraging confidence in Hong Kong.' Unfortunately it is too much to hope the prospect of embarrassment will persuade Beijing to change its stance over such a deeply-held principle. But it is probably enough to prompt China to start searching for a means of persuading Britain to help prevent any demonstrations.
Hence the attraction of a slightly foreshortened 1996-97 legislative session. Were Legco to hold its last meeting on June 25, there would be ample time to clear and lock the council chamber (it is, after all, a government building) before the Union Jack is lowered on June 30.
