HONGKONG officials will participate in any Sino-British talks on the 1994/95 electoral arrangements, it was claimed yesterday, with the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Michael Sze Cho-cheung, likely to be on the British negotiating team if discussions go ahead.
The Governor, Mr Chris Patten, dismissed speculation that Hongkong would be excluded from talks and described as ''ridiculous'' rumours that he was not being consulted about the current diplomatic exchanges.
His spokesman, Mr Mike Hanson, said the Government was not in a position to make a statement on whether there would be talks.
But he added: ''If there are to be talks, Hongkong will be fully involved at every stage and this means direct participation.'' Should the talks go ahead, it is understood that leading the British team will be the Ambassador to China, Sir Robin McLaren, while Mr Sze and Hongkong's Political Adviser, Mr William Ehrman, would also be included.
The Chinese team is expected to be headed by Vice-Foreign Minister Mr Jiang Enzhu and include Mr Wang Fengchao, of the State Council's Hongkong and Macau Affairs Office.
Beijing yesterday stood firm on its demand that Mr Patten's political reform package be abandoned before Sino-British talks on the future of Hongkong resumed.
The Chinese Prime Minister, Mr Li Peng, also reiterated that any matters straddling 1997 should be resolved by the two governments through consultation. To facilitate the resumption of talks, it is understood that the Government will not gazette the billgiving effect to Mr Patten's constitutional package today as earlier planned.