TNAG-2482-FCO40-3613-Correspondence-from-MPs-regarding-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 23

MARTIN REDMOND,

M.P.

X

1. Anke

2-

HKD for

в

dunfl reply from

M. Goodland by 14/12 pl.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

LONDON SW1A OAA

Rt. Hon. Douglas Hurd, C.B.E., M.P., The Secretary of State,

Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

Whitehall,

London,

S.W.1A 2AH.

Dear

Douglas,

Ps/Mr. Goodland

Sir J cores

Mr. Hum

1st. December, 1992

WH

7/12

Spenal Ads

FED

सिंह

to the Llewelyn, Hong Kong

Som de fax

Br Bonni's Roms

Mirs

Tary

13/14 Godlagtraps alpacked. Med 16/12

сне

Chris

Not content with the Maastricht problem, the G.A.T.T. crisis, the recession and the miners' debacle (to say nothing of the impending Council Tax), your Department now seems hell-bent on creating yet another catastrophe - this time in Hong Kong. Patten, wet behind the ears as far as your Department is concerned, seeks to aggravate an already delicate situation between China and Hong Kong, by attempting to use strong-arm methods of diplomacy against the Communist regime.

To me, it seems obvious that he has yet to learn that the Eastern mind thinks more differently to ours and it will be only by very careful discussion and cajoling that the Chinese will even consider the new proposals. If there was ever any doubt about it, Governor Patten must surely now know that, in any negotiations with China, he must be prepared to make haste slowly. The clever and astute business community in Hong Kong that has created probably the world's most successful economy are now, I know, openly hostile to his views and fear the reprisals that clumsy political manoeuvring can bring.

So I feel you should advise Mr. Patten to back off, before yet another Government measure exacerbates a potentially volatile and dangerous situation, and you should inform him to take the sound advice of the native intelligentsia who can teach him a thing or two, before trouble brews over in Hong Kong.

기,

Yours sincerely,

Martin