MI6 spills its secrets at last

WORLD opens programming earlier today to bring live coverage of the Governor's Question Time in the Legislative Council (2.30pm). Chris Patten is expected to announce details of discussions with the Executive Council about the talks with China, and the wayforward for his political reform package.

Don't despair if you miss the live coverage, Raymond Wacks will be doing a round-up of events in The Week in Politics (World 6.45pm and Pearl 12.15am).

Fievel's American Tails and The Simpsons have been taken off this week to make way for a quick showing of On Her Majesty's Secret Service (World 8.30pm), a BBC Panorama documentary for which MI6 opened its doors for the first time in its 84-year history.

The programme, which only premiered in the UK last week, comprises an interview with Baroness Park, a former MI6 controller, who talks about the new openness in the secret service announced in the Queen's speech on November 18.

Baroness Park was ''our woman in Hanoi'' in 1969, at a time when Harold Wilson was denying Britain's involvement with the Vietnam War. She also touches on the ''delicate subject of Hong Kong'', and refers to China as a ''major target'' for information-gathering purposes.

AGED (1976) adventure fantasy At the Earth's Core (World 9.30pm, Original Running Time 90 mins) is still good for a laugh, mainly because of the special effects which are well past their sell-by date.

This sequel to The Land That Time Forgot, stars Peter Cushing and Doug McClure (Trampus from The Virginian) playing Victorian gents who go burrowing into the earth and encounter various prehistoric creatures and a bevy of buxom lasses (including CarolineMunro, the woman who used to do rum ads).