291016Z

REFERRED TO PS/MR PATTEN FOR DISTRIBUTION ADVICE

LNMDAN 9969 PEHPAN 0909

CONFIDENTIAL

DD 29103OZ FCOLN

FM PEKIN TO FCOLN

2909482 JUN

GRS 462

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO DESKBY 29103OZ F C O

TELNO 935

OF 290948Z JUNE 92

HKD noli

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

FCO STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR PS/MR PATTEN HONG KONG STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR

fur Paton,

pa.

293

34

27

KAMA's comment about pars 11+12/ are ok (Galsworthy "greed).

His comment

"omission" in his

para 3 (overleaf) is also morre thriking about.

But I cannot seriously believe flour the other points be pisses

think? might "grave" with the Chinese. you

UKREP JLG HONG KONG STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY

PROB (293)

What do

FCO TELNO 1015: INAUGURATION SPEECH BY THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN

1. THE TONE OF THE SPEECH IS VERY MUCH A MATTER FOR THE NEW GOVERNOR. THERE IS MUCH IN THE SUBSTANCE OF MR PATTEN'S FIVE POINTS WHICH WILL REASSURE THE CHINESE THAT HE DOES NOT INTEND TO RUSH INTO SUDDEN CHANGES IN HONG KONG'S CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM, BUT THEY WILL OF COURSE GO THROUGH IT WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB. AS YOU ASKED I HAVE DONE THE SAME WITH THE OBJECT OF IDENTIFYING POINTS WHICH MIGHT GRATE WITH THEM.

2 =

MY SPECIFIC COMMENTS ARE:-

PARA 3 (I) FIRST SENTENCE IS THE TASK WHICH THE HONG KONG PEOPLE FACE 'NEW'? 1997 IS GETTING NEARER, BUT THE TASK OF TURNING ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS INTO REALITY IS ONE THEY HAVE HAD TO FACE SINCE 1984.

-

1

(II) THE REFERENCE IN THE FINAL SENTENCE TO COOPERATION BETWEEN PEOPLES AND NATIONS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL' MIGHT, FOR SUSPICIOUS CHINESE READERS, CARRY A HINT OF 'INTERNATIONALISATION'. PRESUMABLY THE INTENTION IS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE BENEFICIAL

29/6

nit. picked. sured, the next 5 yır is different?

balls.

syiz

RESULTS, IN THIS INSTANCE, OF COOPERATION BETWEEN BRITAIN, CHINA precisely (amach beyond)

AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

PARA 6 EVEN TAKING IN CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY AS PART OF OUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND WE HAVE A RELATIVELY SHORT HISTORY COMPARED WITH CHINA'S. DOES 'TWO ANCIENT CIVILISATIONS' REALLY RING TRUE?

1/

What, one ancient

ދ

and me prests, bloody old."?

PARAS 11 AND 12 THE REFERENCE IN PARA 11 TO 'ONE COUNTRY TWO SYSTEMS' HIGHLIGHTS THE CONTRAST IMPLIED IN PARA 12 BETWEEN THE FREEDOMS INVOLVED IN HONG KONG AND THE LACK OF SUCH FREEDOMS IN THE PRC. THE CONTRAST WOULD BE LESS APPARENT IF PARAS 12 AND 13 WERE REVERSED. THEY READ BETTER THAT WAY ANYWAY.

PARA 21 I DON'T THINK THE AIRPORT PROJECT IS ABOUT HOMES, THOUGH MORE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY GET BUILT AS A RESULT OF IT. I WOULD OMIT THE REFERENCE HERE: THERE IS ONE TO 'HOUSING' IN PARA 23.

PARA 27 THIS IS THE KEY PARAGRAPH FOR THE CHINESE AND I HOPE IT WILL SURVIVE AS IT STANDS. WITHOUT IT THE ONLY SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO COOPERATION WITH CHINA IS IN THE CONTEXT OF LAW AND ORDER (PARA 24).

He misses the foun's is to about infrassinotme nor jur Ampoes.

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