Prescott vows to help ease HK handover

John Prescott, the Labour deputy leader, winding up a visit to Peking, said: "We want [the transition of Hong Kong] to go well, whether it is under a Tory government or a Labour government, and we'll do all we can to see that is achieved." His trip to China was "a matter of updating ourselves" on preparations for the transition. He is due in Hong Kong on Monday, where he hopes to renew his acquaintance with Tung Chee-Hwa, set to be chief executive of Hong Kong when the Union flag is finally lowered on 30 June.

Teresa Poole - Peking