04-APR-1993 12:14
Gallagher
MR CHRIS PATTEN INT DAVID FROST
15
0491 579838
P.14
J
LONDON
-
4 APRIL 1993
MR PATTEN:
There used to be a tradition that public servants, when they
retired, did not comment on what happened after them. I think
there is an equal and honourable tradition that one does not, if
one is doing a job, talk about the people who did it before. I
would like to continue that tradition and leave Sir Percy to do
whatever he wants.
INTERVIEWER:
But you are going to go out and have a merry weekend with him
while you are here, are you?
MR PATTEN:
I do not think we will be going on holiday together, no.
INTERVIEWER:
So looking at the immediate future, is there really any tangible evidence that there will be a change in the Chinese position, can
you see any softening of it at all?
MR PATTEN:
I can see the prospect of getting back into a dialogue with China, I think that is the only really sensible way forward, I very much hope that happens. For two or three months after I made the
proposals originally China said they would only talk to us if we withdrew the proposals, then that line changed. I very much hope that we will see another adjustment in China's position. For our