TNAG-2452-FCO40-3569-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 109

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MDHIA 1316

FEBRUARY). THERE ARE SIGNS THAT MEMBERS OF LEGCO WHO ARE WELL DISPOSED TO US ARE BEGINNING TO CONSIDER SERIOUSLY HOW THEY MIGHT PUT TOGETHER AN ALTERNATIVE PACKAGE THAT COULD BE SEEN AS SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE. THIS MAY PROVE TO BE A WAY FORWARD, ALTHOUGH WE MUST UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE ON THE SLIDE.

4.

WE SHALL BE CONSIDERING OUR FUTURE STRATEGY IN MORE DETAIL TOMORROW (3 DECEMBER), AND WILL TELEGRAPH FURTHER IN THE LIGHT OF THAT. BUT NOTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR HAS SHAKEN MY BELIEF THAT I SHOULD STAND FIRM, SO LONG AS MY PROPOSALS HAVE THE SUPPORT OF A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF THE COMMUNITY. BUT IF THIS SUPPORT MELTS AWAY, WE SHOULD NOT TRY TO BE MORE HEROIC THAN THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE PREPARED TO BE.

PATTEN

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MAIN

63

.HK POLICY

HKD

PUSD

FED

DISTRIBUTION

72

PLANNERS

RAD

PS

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT

.AND MS BROOKS

NEWS D

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES

MR APPLEYARD

MR HUM

ADDITIONAL

CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE

CAOFF //MISS NEVILLE-JONES

CAOFF//MR SIBSON

NNNN

•

CAOFF//MS D CORNER CAOFF//MR CHARLTON PS/PM

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