Patten's political reform package to be gazetted this week

THE bill giving effect to the controversial package of constitutional reforms proposed by the Governor, Mr Chris Patten, is expected to be gazetted this Friday, despite reservations among some Executive Councillors.

A government statement issued after yesterday's Exco meeting fell short of saying whether the reforms had won the support of Mr Patten's ''cabinet''.

But some members maintained that the Patten plan, which includes moves to substantially expand the franchise for the 1995 Legislative Council functional constituency and Election Committee ballots, would need further talks.

The bill will propose that the Election Committee, designed to return 10 members to the 1995 Legislative Council, be modelled on Mr Patten's plan that its members will be drawn from elected district board representatives.

It will also aim to create nine new functional constituency seats - giving all Hongkong's 2.7 million working population a vote.

China, already vociferous in its opposition to the Patten proposals, is expected to be told of the bill's content before it is announced.

Beijing has vowed to halt the reforms, unveiled by Mr Patten during his October 7 policy address to Legco, and has already threatened to replace the 1995 legislature if it is elected under the new provisions.