LEGISLATORS are preparing to put forward amendments to the remaining ''controversial'' items of Mr Patten's constitutional package, though they differ on whether the revisions should speed up or slow down the pace of democratisation.
Parties agreed it was impossible to bring China and Britain back to the negotiating table once the second part of the bill had been tabled.
Liberal Party chairman Allen Lee Peng-fei, who on Wednesday advocated splitting the less controversial bill in an effort to allow talks to resume, yesterday said his hopes had been completely dashed.
''There will never be any negotiation. The Governor is just indulging in wishful thinking [when he said the Britain had not given up talking].
''It is a pity to see no through-train and no convergence in the political aspects. And I hope that the effect will not extend to economic areas,'' he said.
The liberal camp yesterday said it would move amendments which would allow more democracy. Independents indicated that last year's revised version of the proposals were more acceptable, while pro-China legislators said they would oppose the bill.