XN000022-1993-05-08 — Page 13

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SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1993

QUESTION:

You repeated again today as you have so many other times that you are a salesman for (?} with China, atcetera, but the fact--

GOVERNOR PATTEN:

I'm a salesman for Hong Kong,

QUESTION:

But the fact that you are here, giving this message at the same time the Chinese are pitching a rather cynical eleventh hour display of contract signing with all these people in an effort to gat American businesses up and moving on this issue and they're behind them [?], the proximity of those two events makes

why it a little bit tough to suspend disbelief.

Basic question is not are you or are you not, the question is what do you expect to get back for the effort?

GOVERNOR PATTEN:

I expect - to get back from the effort rather greater belief on the part of Chinese officials that I do what I say I'll do, and I also expect to get back for the effort a rather greater recognition of the fact that I have consistently in the past and will consistently in the future draw a distinction between trade and economic issues on the one hand and politics on the other.

I very much hope that I can look to Chinese officials to make the same distinction in practice as well as allegedly in principle.

QUESTION;

Can you?

] the airport?

GOVERNOR PATTEN:

The airport, as I've said on a number of occasions, in my judgement, we could kick loose in a morning with a break for coffee. Just needs--a--the will and a fair wind. We're ready and willing and able to do business on the airport whenever China wants.

QUESTION:

{ ?

In the last few days did you actively

solicit (?] US Embassy [?] and Congress support for your political reform proposal and can you say that I ? ?] political reform remain unchanged so far. [7]

GOVERNOR PATTEN:

The answer to the first question is no, I didn't solicit support.

The answer to the second question is the British Government supports the proposals that we put forward last Autumn. It's also very pleased that it is now talking to the Government of the PRC about the arrangements for the 1994/95 elections and I think that, were a British minister here today, he would also say that

/FIRST TIME