SECRET AND PERSONAL
18
the Prime Minister's decision to receive Mr Martin Lee
last month.
The Chinese have no doubt also been influenced by the intense speculation in the Hong Kong press and political circles about possible changes in policy by
Mr Patten.
A degree of uncertainty in the run-up to Mr Patten's
arrival is inevitable. It would not be possible to give
the Chinese absolute reassurances of no change without foreclosing Mr Patten's options. But this in itself may have led the Chinese (as well as some people in Hong Kong) to assume that decisions on changes have already been made. This Chinese perception now seems to be
affecting their policy on issues of real importance to
Hong Kong, particularly the airport.
Redacted Under FOI Exemption Sec 27(1)