22 MAR '92 13:49
THE Broadcast Monitoring CompANT
TEL: 071-347 Hee Fax: 071.377 6103
INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS PATTEN
Programme
: THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND
Station
*
BBC RADIO 4
Date
:
21.3.93
Lime
:
13:40
BROADCAST REPORT
1
CHRIS PATTEN:
Well, there are slightly mixed signals still from Peking officials. One of the most senior involvad in Hong Kong policy hat said that talks are impossible. Others have still talked about concern that there should be good cumparation between Britain and China and that talks aren't ruled out. So, we'll just have to see in the next few days. I don't think we can stand around indefinitely, wringing our hands and hoping for talks. we'd all like to sew talks. but if China puts down preconditions which make talks impossible then we have to get on with putting in place arrangements fur the 1994 and 95 elections
NICK CLARKE;
But of course vou have preconditions of your own don't you? One of your preconditions is that Hong Kong officials must be present at those talks. suiterhing Peking ́s not preparņu tu tolerate,
CHRIS PATTEN:
Well, ict me desuribe what you say is a precondition. Throughout the period of the last decade or longer Hong Kong government officials have been part of the British team at talks. So, we're nul talking about doing anything different. It's China who suddenly invented this problem in these talks about talks for reasons which it's quite difficult to understand. All we're saying is that talks chould be on the customary basis. I wouldn't dreain of trying to specify who anoulo be in China's team in any talks and I think it's a bit curious if China tries to insist that Hong Kong government ufficials, in the words of the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesmai!, "don't have the right to talk".
NICK CLARKE:
One of the koy factors here, surely, is the level of support vuu eniny in Hong Kong and there does appear to be building evidence that particularly in the business community there is deep anxiety. After all, the links are so great between Hong Kong and China so many Chinese people are employed by Hong Kong companies and so on that some sort of reeglution is demanded by the
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CEBZ LVS 140=01
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