SHARP differences remained between China and Britain during yesterday's second round of meetings over Hongkong's 1994/95 electoral arrangements.
Sources said it would be difficult to predict whether the two sides could come up with a joint statement to end the talks today.
Matters of principle remained the sticking points, particularly on issues such as the ''through train'' for legislators to serve beyond 1997.
Outside the Diaoyutai State Guest House where the meeting was held, Chinese officials stepped up criticism over Britain's stance on the through-train arrangement and Hongkong's role in the talks on constitutional reforms.
And its propaganda machine warned against any move to ''create new obstacles''.
Both Beijing's representative, Mr Jiang Enzhu and his British counterpart, Sir Robin McLaren, said during a five-minute photo-call that they were hoping for a positive outcome.
They re-stated that their talks were based on the ''three accords'' - the Joint Declaration, the Basic Law and the previous understandings and agreements reached by the two governments.