THE British ambassador to China, Sir Robin McLaren, is to review with top London officials the British strategy over the political row with Beijing during a visit this week.
He is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister, Mr John Major, the Foreign Secretary, Mr Douglas Hurd, and visiting Governor Mr Chris Patten on ''the way forward'' as there is no sign of a breakthrough in the Sino-British impasse.
Speaking outside the embassy before his departure, Sir Robin said: ''I'm just going back for a routine consultation. I do that from time to time. So I shall see the Foreign Secretary. I shall see the Governor and no doubt [we] will review the way forwardfrom here.'' The ambassador, who is to stay in London for a week before returning to China, said he would probably have no time during his stay to meet the Chinese ambassador to Britain, Mr Ma Yuzhen.
Meanwhile, Mr Patten, who will be in London until Saturday, said a legislature formed ''cleanly, fairly and openly'' was fundamental to the rule of law.
''I strongly believe that a credible legislature not necessarily wholly directly elected, but at least arrived at cleanly, fairly and openly, and not cooked to be acceptable to one particular party or another is fundamental to the rule of law,'' he said.
The Governor wrote in a British newspaper, The Sunday Express, that his push for clean and fair elections in the territory would not be affected by China's ''name-calling''.