Beijing issues new warning

CHINA has warned that the British trick of playing the ''three-legged stool'' strategy in the Sino-British talks on Hongkong's transitional matters, would overturn the 1997 joint agreement.

The latest attack from Beijing opposing a say for Executive and Legislative councillors in the current dispute on the 1995 electoral package, came from the Beijing-affiliated Bauhinia monthly magazine.

It denounced the British plot of playing the trick of the ''three-legged stool'' as an erroneous position to ''defy history and the Sino-British Joint Declaration''.

''This is extremely serious. If the British Government sticks obstinately to its course and plays the trick of the 'three-legged stool' it will create the serious consequence of overturning the Joint Declaration,'' it said.

While the policy of ''Hongkong people ruling Hongkong'' was part of Beijing's policy towards the territory after 1997, the article argued it was ridiculous to talk of self-rule before the sovereignty change-over.

The magazine said if the Governor's plan was to shirk his responsibility by pushing Legco members to pass the relevant bills, it was an act of someone who had no political integrity.

It accused the British Government of attempting to block China's resumption of sovereignty over Hongkong in order to extend its colonial rule.

Bauhinia called on Britain to abandon the Patten proposals so the two countries could return to the negotiating table.