BATTLE lines are being drawn in the Legislative Council for the debate on a referendum over Hongkong's political future.
The Liberal Party said yesterday it planned to table a motion seeking an adjournment of next Wednesday's Legco debate on whether a referendum should go ahead.
The debate, sponsored by United Democrat Mr Szeto Wah, reads: ''This council urges the Government to hold a territory-wide referendum on the 1994-95 electoral arrangements to facilitate Legco to consider the relevant bills on such basis and to ensure that the decisions of the council will be compatible with the principles of openness, fairness and acceptability to the people of Hongkong.'' But Liberal Party legislator Mrs Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee said the debate would not help next week's Sino-British talks, scheduled to begin on Thursday.
''Now the two sides have decided to talk, it is absolutely not the right time to ask for a referendum,'' she said.
According to Legco standing orders, a member may move a motion without notice that a debate be adjourned. The president would then put the question to the council.
Mr Szeto is out of town, but party vice-chairman Mr Yeung Sum said the Liberal Party's move was unusual.