NEW DELHI, June 28 (AFP) - The Dalai Lama's bureau said Saturday China's ability to live up to its promises to the people of Hong Kong would help in resolving the Tibetan issue.

"If the Chinese leadership could demonstrate the necessary courage, vision and wisdom, it will undoubtedly open up better prospects for resolving outstanding problems like Tibet," it said in a statement.

"Hong Kong will be a litmus test for the leadership's willingness and ability to allow effective devolution of power," it said.

"The reality today is that like Tibet, Hong Kong will be under Chinese control and what communist China does in Hong Kong would have an impact far beyond the shores of the former British crown colony."

"Whether China's actions in Hong Kong will measure up to China's promises to the six million people of Hong Kong or whether China will do to Hong Kong what it has done to Tibet will be watched closely everywhere in the world."

The statement said Hong Kong's return to China would mark the end of "the last and the most visible sign of British colonial presence in China."

"But what about colonialism practised by some Asian countries on their smaller and weaker Asian neighbours? China continues to hold on to Tibet like any colonial appendage."

The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of six million Tibetans, has an office here. He also heads a government-in-exile that is based in the Indian hill town of Dharamsala, to the north of New Delhi.

The Dalai Lama has been living in India since he fled his homeland following a failed anti-Chinese uprising in 1959. India is also home to some 100,000 Tibetan exiles.

In a separate development the Tibet Information Network (TIN) said Chinese authorities had heightened restrictions on travel to Tibet as a precaution during the period of the Hong Kong handover.

The report could not be independently confirmed here.