CO-OPERATIVE Resources Centre legislator Mrs Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee said yesterday it was a violation of the executive-led Government's tradition if the administration relied on the Legislature Council to significantly amend the Governor's political reform package.
She said the best scenario would be for the British and Chinese governments to arrive at a compromised model before the whole legislative blueprint was tabled in Legco by the end of the month.
Her comments were made amid reports that the Government was willing to amend or even withdraw Mr Patten's package and postpone the tabling of the bill if China wished to initiate negotiations on the matter.
Officials refused to comment on the report and the Deputy to the Governor, Sir David Ford, only reiterated that the plan to gazette the Governor's proposals on election arrangements before the end of the month remained on course.
Although the Government had earlier planned to gazette the bill today, last-minute technical problems resulted in a delay of the publication and it is expected to be ready for next week's Gazette.
It is understood the Government has decided to send a copy of the bill to the Chinese side before its formal publication. Britain is also hoping for some response from Beijing before tabling the bill.