TNAG-1590-FCO40-2175-Appointment-of-Sir-David-Wilson-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 165

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who is prepared to stand up for Hong Kong's own

interests, these would be both London and Peking.

DAVID LEY:

So was that the

reputation he acquired in the

colony? He was instrumental in drawing up the

deal with China that will lead to sovereignty

going to China in 1997.

PHILIP BOWRING:

Well he was very closely connected with that and,

of course, before, when he was here as political

advisor during the days of Sir Murray MacAhere's

(phonetic) governorship, he was associated then

with Sir Murray's visit to Peking when Sir Murray

was told, in no uncertain terms, by Deng Xiao

Ping (phonetic), that Britain could not expect

to extend the lease over Hong Kong but he came

back and didn't really say anything about that

at all and rather, I think, led Hong Kong people

up

the garden path at that time. And, I think,

David Wilson was rather associated with that policy

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