THESE are edited highlights of the questions posed by legislators and Mr Patten's answers.
Mr David Li: How many points of disagreement still remain unresolved and what are they? Governor: I've set out very clearly the basis on which we were prepared to talk. After all these weeks, I was not in a position today to come to the council and announce a date for the commencement of talks.
I wasn't even able to come to the council and say: early next week - if we defer gazettal today - we'll be able to announce a date for the commencement of talks.
I've set out what our views are on the team that should take part in the talks and it is for the Chinese side to explain why that which has been acceptable, for example in the Joint Liaison Group which some Chinese officials were suggesting should be where we discuss these constitutional matters, is not acceptable for the talks which we've been discussing over the last few weeks.
It's very difficult, I think, for me to understand and I suspect it will be very difficult for many members of the community to understand.
Mr Cheung Man-kwong: When will the bills be submitted to the Legislative Council? And even if talks are reopened between the British and the Chinese side, I think the Legislative Council should not only be one of the legs of a three-legged-stool and actually it should play a much more active role than that.
Governor: The administration has to gazette those proposals and that, after not having taken that action for four Fridays, we intend to do today. The next step is the introduction of legislation to this council. We'll have to consider taking that step inthe light of other developments but I want to say to the council straightaway that I still hope that it's possible to have talks about the arrangements for the 1994/95 elections.