CHINA still hoped to re-open talks with Britain on Hongkong's political structure, according to Hongkong affairs advisers just returned from Beijing.
Mr Ng Hong-mun said China's view was that the ball was in the British court.
''If they can accept the status given to Hongkong officials [in the talks] and will not introduce the bills in the Legislative Council, there are chances for talks,'' said Mr Ng, a member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hongkong (DAB).
Mr Patten said in Brussels last week that China should address three issues for the opening of talks: any Chinese proposal on the 1995 electoral arrangement; China's willingness to have a fair election in 1995; and China's tolerance of allowing elected legislators in 1995 to straddle 1997.
The chairman of the DAB, Mr Tsang Yok-sing, said China had adopted an active attitude in the resumption of talks while Chinese officials were still very cautious about setting up another ''stove''.
Adviser Professor Lau Siu-kai said there was still a chance for negotiations as neither side would like to bear the responsibility of ruling out talks.
