News In Brief

Britain, China may have hit snag on status of Hong Kong

Britain and China appeared to have hit a snag Thursday in negotiations on the future of Hong Kong. A joint statement described the talks as ''useful and constructive,'' but the failure to set a date for the 23rd round was highly unusual.

After two years of talks, they now have just 24 days to settle remaining problems if they are to fulfill their announced intention of initialing an accord on handing back the colony by the end of the month.