The arrival of an advance party of the Chinese army in Hong Kong today coincides with heightened protests over the removal of civil liberties when China's re-absorption of Hong Kong is made final on July 1. The objections seem rather late but are none the less welcome. The future leader of Hong Kong appointed by Beijing, Mr Tung Chee-hwa, announced plans to restrict public protests and to ban foreign funding for local political groups. These measures are aimed directly at the democracy movement and its leader, the admirable Martin Lee, who was in Washington last Friday, apparently making a favourable impression on President Clinton.

The significance of Mr Lee's visit is considerable, especially as it stands in stark contrast to Mr Tung's cancellation of his own visit on the dubious grounds that he was too busy. Mr Lee's visit seems to have strengthened Washington's interest in Hong Kong and the impression is heightened by Mr Clinton's warning to Beijing that the agreement negotiated between Britain and China on Hong Kong's future for the next 50 years must be honoured to the letter.

If Mr Lee is doing well Mr Tung is doing rather badly, and deservedly so. Banning foreign money reaching Hong Kong political groups was presented as a means of stopping foreigners involving themselves in domestic politics. Yet Mr Tung has had to admit that he donated #50,000 to Conservative Party coffers in the weeks before the 1992 General Election. This may be embarrassing for the Tories but it is evidence of utter hypocrisy on Mr Tung's part.

None of it means that the efforts to retain the civil rights which are under threat from Mr Tung's proposals will succeed, but at the very least Mr Lee's position has been strengthened somewhat and the Chinese leadership may proceed a little more cautiously.