CHINESE and British officials yesterday extended talks on the handover of defence land after failing to strike a deal in three days of discussions.
Talks would continue today, and probably into next week, the negotiators said.
The move indicated the two sides were keen to conclude the seven-year-long negotiations for an accord on the territory's defence sites to be tabled to a full meeting of the Joint Liaison Group this month.
The announcement was contrary to forecasts that an agreement would be reached during the three-day session.
Britain has accused the Chinese team of changing its position by demanding a slightly bigger naval basin at Stonecutters Island and retaining one of the 25 military sites it had promised to give to the Government for redevelopment.
Chinese officials were angry that details of the confidential exchange had been leaked to the press.
Speaking after the five-hour meeting, Chinese team leader Chen Zuo'er said it was ''not without regret'' that the two sides could not reach an agreement on time.