Negotiators silent on 'sharp differences'

SHARP differences remained between China and Britain during yesterday's second round of meetings over Hongkong's 1994/95 electoral arrangements.

Sources said it would be difficult to predict whether the two sides could come up with a joint statement to end the talks today.

Matters of principle remained the sticking points, particularly on issues such as the ''through train'' for legislators to serve beyond 1997.

Outside the Diaoyutai State Guest House where the meeting was held, Chinese officials stepped up criticism over Britain's stance on the through-train arrangement and Hongkong's role in the talks on constitutional reforms.

And its propaganda machine warned against any move to ''create new obstacles''.

Both Beijing's representative, Mr Jiang Enzhu and his British counterpart, Sir Robin McLaren, said during a five-minute photo-call that they were hoping for a positive outcome.

They re-stated that their talks were based on the ''three accords'' - the Joint Declaration, the Basic Law and the previous understandings and agreements reached by the two governments.

Mr Jiang, a vice-foreign minister, said the talks were ''proceeding in a normal way''.

But both sides maintained strict confidentiality. It remained unclear whether a joint statement would be released at the end of the session today, or whether a date for the third round might be given.

Emerging from the four-hour session, Sir Robin said they had rather over-run their quota by meeting well after one o'clock, but he remained tight-lipped on progress.

In Hongkong yesterday, the left-wing Wen Wei Po condemned the Governor, Mr Chris Patten, for seeking confrontation with China over the through-train issue, adding that his sincerity for talks was not convincing.

Critical of what it called Mr Patten's ''megaphone diplomacy'', the newspaper's commentary said the Governor had misled the public and interfered with the talks by twisting the meaning of the through-train model.

The other major left-wing newspaper, Ta Kung Pao, insisted that the Legislative Council had no right to overturn any agreements reached between China and Britain.

Mr Patten said he hoped the give and take in the talks would lead to a successful outcome and defended the importance of confidentiality.

He indicated that the Government would not table the draft bills on political reforms while the two sides were still holding meetings.

But Mr Patten stressed there was time pressure on the legislative arrangements.