TNAG-2593-FCO40-3781-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 34

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CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Ricketts, HKD

Ricketts

From:

John Morris

Date:

CC:

PS/Mr C Patten

11 May 1992

PS/Mr Goodlad

Sir J Coles

Mr Burns

GOVERNOR-DESIGNATE : VISIT TO PEKING

Commenting on Mr Patten's interview with David Frost on 10 May, Mr Yaxley said that Mr Patten had successfully parried all of Frost's attempts to get him to discuss

1.

substance.

There was nothing which could embarrass Governor Wilson, but the Hong Kong Chinese staff in his office had commented that Mr Patten's announcement that he would pay an early visit to Peking would go down badly in Hong Kong. A visit to Peking in the first few weeks (or even the first two months) would be interpreted as rushing to kowtow to China.

2.

Mr Patten had in any case asked for advice in due course on Baroness Dunn's suggestion that he should pay an early visit to China. Grateful if your advice could also deal with the above angle.

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Ps/My Patte Jails

The

John Morris

advice incorporated inte

paper on the critical part

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