ACTORS REPRESENTING DENG AND THATCHER PERFORM IN BEIJING, 1997-06-29 (photo)

Actor Pan Yumin (L) who plays China's late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, in the play "Return!", holds a meeting with "Margaret Thatcher" played by Polish actress Basha Weiss (R) at the opening of of the play in Beijing June 28. The scene is an adaptation of Deng's meeting with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher that led to the negotiations that sealed the return of Hong Kong after 156 years of British colonial rule. Deng's first stage portrayal is part of an orgy of celebration across China for the handover of Hong Kong at midnight June 30, a resumption of sovereignty made possible by Deng's own "one country two systems" formula. Deng died aged 92 in Beijing earlier this year. CHINA HONG KONG