THE Governor, Mr Chris Patten, presided over a gala party last night for the opening by Baroness Thatcher of a spectacular new suspension bridge linking Hong Kong with a new airport, but chief executive designate of the post colonial territory, Mr Tung Chee hwa, found pressing reasons not to turn up.
The snub reflects the barely disguised coolness in relations between both sides as the July 1st hand over of Hong Kong to China approaches, and typifies the bickering between London and Beijing which has marked the 7.2 billion Hong Kong dollars (£1 billion) project since its inception five years ago.
Mr Tung chose yesterday afternoon to hold talks in Guangzhou across the border aimed at resolving a crisis over illegal child immigrants.
British army helicopters flew overhead as marching bands and a long paper dragon cavorted on what is now the world's longest roadrail suspension bridge. Thousands of people watched the proceedings.
There was extensive security after cables were cut a week ago at the bridge, which links Hong Kong to a new airport off the island of Landau. The airport will replace the Tai Kak Airport.
The 2.14 km Tsing Ma bridge takes second place to the Humber bridge as the world's longest suspension bridge, but sets the record as the longest road rail bridge.
The graceful white structure contains 300,000 tonnes of steel and concrete, and its wire suspension cables would circle the earth 4 1/2 times. When fully operational, it is expected to carry more than 30,000 passengers a day bound for the new airport at Chek Lap Kok.
From the beginning China denounced what was to be the world's largest infrastructure project as extravagant and accused the British of trying to dictate how Hong Kong's resources should be spent ahead of and after the handover.
Work on the airport and bridge went ahead while SinoBritish sniping dragged on for more than five years before agreement was finally reached in 1995. The airport is due to open on April 1st next year.
Then Governor, Mr David Wilson, first unveiled a port and airport development plan costing HK$127 billion (£17.6 billion) as a demonstration of confidence in Hong Kong's future. China let Britain know of its objections to plans to seek funding from capital markets - to which its agreement was necessary as the completion date fell after the handover.
In June, 1991, former British ambassador to China Mr Percy Cradock travelled to Beijing and secured agreement for a visit by the Prime Minister, Mr John Major, who signed a Memorandum of Understanding giving China a say in all key decisions connected to the airport and other business affairs spanning 1997.
It was not until June 1995 that Britain and China signed Financial Support Agreements. But yesterday, when Lady Thatcher opened the bridge, Chinese officials and Mr Tung were notably absent.
The coolness in relations stems from fundamental disagreement over civil liberties reforms introduced by Britain in its final years in the colony.