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Lu slams secret Patten plan

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RELATIONS with Beijing appeared to be heading for a new low last night as China launched a series of bitter broadsides against Governor Chris Patten.

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And Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Lu Ping opened up a new front in the attacks, revealing a secret British proposal to give civil servants a functional Legislative Council seat.

He accused the Hong Kong Government of trying to politicise the civil service and of breaching the Joint Declaration. He warned this would disrupt the talks.

Government House immediately denounced Mr Lu's revelations as breaking the rules of confidentiality surrounding the negotiations.

Chinese chief negotiator and Vice-Foreign Minister Jiang Enzhu also weighed in with an attack.

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He accused Mr Patten of having ''ulterior motives'' in linking China's barring of labour dissident Han Dongfang to the freedom of movement of Hong Kong people after 1997.

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