CHINA yesterday accused Britain of playing more ''little tricks'' that would obstruct the progress of the political reform talks.
Xinhua (New China News Agency) vice-director Zhang Junsheng attacked the announcement of the members of the new Boundary and Election Commission as another ''little trick'' by the British side.
''This matter happened during the Sino-British political talks,'' he said. ''Britain has played 'little tricks' and this is one of those.
''Sino-British talks about the 1994-95 electoral arrangements for Hongkong are [still continuing],'' he added. ''If we want the talks to have a positive result, they should not continue to play such 'little tricks'.'' The Government on Friday announced the membership of the three-man commission headed by High Court Judge Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing. It is charged with drawing up boundaries for the '94/'95 polls.
Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Michael Sze Cho-cheung last night responded to China's attack with a warning the administration could not spend all its time anticipating counterblasts from Beijing.
''We cannot discharge our responsibility for running Hongkong over the next four years if we spend all our time looking over our shoulder,'' he said.
''The commission's work is non-controversial, non-political and has widespread support in the community. It would be a mistake not to go ahead.'' Mr Sze said the Government had already shown its sincerity by holding back from putting the electoral reform bill before the Legislative Council, but the work of the commission could not be delayed.