RESTRICTED
Democrats and Allen Lee's Cooperative Resources Centre, plan to send delegations to London in the coming weeks to
see Mr Patten and Ministers.
Comment in the media has also now turned to advice
for Mr Patten on what his priorities should be. The need to strike the right balance between standing up to China and avoiding confrontation has been a frequent theme. There have also been some signs of anxiety that Mr Patten might put British interests first.
The Chinese reaction has so far been low key. They have made clear that the choice was purely a matter for HMG. The Chinese Foreign Minister's message to the Foreign Secretary, and a statement from the Foreign Ministry, expressed the hope that Mr Patten would continue cooperation with China on the basis of the Joint
Declaration and the Basic Law. This slightly apprehensive note has been echoed in the pro-China press in Hong Kong, reacting perhaps to some of the editorial
comment in the UK. One newspaper commented that if standing up for freedom meant championing anti-China forces and going beyond the Basic Law on electoral issues, that could only jeopardise Britain's long-term interests in Hong Kong.
All in all, and given the Hong Kong media's tendency to look for reasons to criticise HMG, this has been as good a reception in Hong Kong as we could have hoped for.
Ouseve
JS Wall Esq
10 Downing Street
RESTRICTED
(S L Gass)
де
Private Secretary