CONFIDENTIAL
050557
MDHIAN 5970
RESPONSIBLE CONFIDENTIALITY AND GENERALLY CONFINING HIMSELF TO EXPRESSING PLEASURE AT HIS RECEPTION IN LONDON AND AT MR. PATTEN'S APPOINTMENT.
THE COMMUNIST PRESS HAS KEPT UP A BARRAGE OF CRITICISM AGAINST MARTIN LEE SINCE HIS MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER. FOLLOWING MR. GOODLAD'S REMARK, TODAY'S WEN WEI PAO AND TA KUNG PAO CARRY 7 ARTICLES ALL ARGUING THAT THE BASIC LAW CANNOT BE AMENDED BEFORE 1997. SEE OUR SEPARATE TELEGRAM FOR DETAILS.
5 =
I FEAR THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THE CHINESE MAY NOW TRY TO HOLD THE AIRPORT DISCUSSIONS HOSTAGE, PENDING ASSURANCES ON THE POLITICAL FRONT. I WILL NO DOUBT BE PRESSED HARD ON HMG'S INTENTIONS WHEN I VISIT CHINA FROM 7 - 12 JUNE. MIFT SUGGESTS HOW I SHOULD DEAL WITH CHINESE CONCERNS.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
55
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
DISTRIBUTION
55
NEWS D PLANNERS
HKD
PUSD
FED//HD
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
.AND MS BROOKS
RAD
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/MR PATTEN
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
NNNN
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CONFIDENTIAL