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HAND PERHAPS THROUGH HONG KONG VISITORS RELAYING SNIPPETS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH MINISTERS. BOTH MR PATTEN AND MR GOODLAD HAVE BEEN MEETING JOURNALISTS IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER SINCE THEIR APPOINTMENTS, AND HAVE BEEN ASKING QUESTIONS OF ALL AND SUNDRY ABOUT HONG KONG. WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO THINK THAT EITHER OF THEM HAS BEEN SPECULATING ON THIS PARTICULAR MATTER (NOR HAVE THEY SEEN JOHN ELLISON, ALTHOUGH MR GOODLAD IS DUE TO DO SO IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS). I AM ARRANGING FOR YOU TO BE SENT A COPY OF OUR LATEST UNDERSTANDING OF PLANNED PRESS CONTACTS THAT HAVE BEEN LINED UP WITH THE TWO MINISTERS.
5. WE SHALL DO OUR BEST TO DISCOURAGE ANY SPECULATION OF THE KIND YOU DESCRIBE. I WELL UNDERSTAND HOW TIRESOME AND UNHELPFUL THESE STORIES ARE FOR YOU. I FEAR THAT I HAVE NO FEEL FOR WHEN MR PATTEN PLANS TO MAKE OR ANNOUNCE A DECISION.
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CONFIDENTIAL STRICTLY PERSONAL
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