XN000022-1993-05-04 — Page 54

TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1993

GOVERNOR PATTEN:

40

That may form the core of an

opposition speech in some election subsequent to 1997. But I think if it does, it will not be a speech that gets

much coverage.

I do not honestly think that that is a charge that would stick. I am not even sure that it is a

charge that would be thrown, because I think it is

inherently absurd.

There has been no argument, to speak of, in

British politics about the resumption of Chinese

sovereignty in 1997. There have been arguments in the past about the terms of that resumption.

And there have

been arguments, though fairly moderate, on the pace of democratization in Hong Kong. At present, I think I can say with reasonable confidence there is more cross-party support in Britain for what we are trying to do in Hong Kong than has been the case for a couple of decades.

I hope that can survive, because I think we should be attempting to pursue a bipartisan policy in Hong

Kong.

What I would hope, looking beyond 1997, is that

the United States and others, including Hong Kong, would have helped to ensure that China is a huge economic success. And without laboring the point, I think there are political consequences and social consequences of

that, as I said earlier.

So I would very much hope that the charge that was levelled rather unfairly against the Democratic Party 40 years ago would simply not be regarded as a runner in

relation to 1997 and the years after that.

/MR. BERGER: