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HKD avoti
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Ricketts, HKD
Ricketts
From:
John Morris
Date:
CC:
PS/Mr C Patten
11 May 1992
PS/Mr Goodlad
Sir J Coles
Mr Burns
GOVERNOR-DESIGNATE : VISIT TO PEKING
Commenting on Mr Patten's interview with David Frost on 10 May, Mr Yaxley said that Mr Patten had successfully parried all of Frost's attempts to get him to discuss
1.
substance.
There was nothing which could embarrass Governor Wilson, but the Hong Kong Chinese staff in his office had commented that Mr Patten's announcement that he would pay an early visit to Peking would go down badly in Hong Kong. A visit to Peking in the first few weeks (or even the first two months) would be interpreted as rushing to kowtow to China.
2.
Mr Patten had in any case asked for advice in due course on Baroness Dunn's suggestion that he should pay an early visit to China. Grateful if your advice could also deal with the above angle.
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Ps/My Patte Jails
The
John Morris
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