TNAG-2596-FCO40-3784-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 25

291048Z

REFERRED TO PS/MR PATTEN FOR DISTRIBUTION ADVICE LNMDAN 9979

CONFIDENTIAL

00 FCOLN

HMLNAN 0305

FM HK

TO FCOLN

29050OZ JUN

GRS 200

CONFIDENTIAL

FM UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 299

OF 29050OZ JUNE 92

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING

dur

Paston

Kara 2. is

pajuit?

(294)

an idea shared by

Sir R. Macharen, and worth

agreeing to I think.

Not so sure about para 3

HONG KONG STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR

PEKING PERSONAL FOR HMA

PERSONAL FOR PS/MR PATIEN

PROBABLY (293.

I thought Stab. + prosp.

our ident was to awaid

YOUR TELNOS 1015 AND 1016 TO HONG KONG: INAUGURATION SPEECH

1. I THINK THE SPEECH IS EXCELLENT.

2.

N 27/6

I HAVE ONLY ONE COMMENT OF PRESENTATION, WITH THE CHINESE IN MIND.

THE PASSAGE BEGINNING QUOTE CITIZENS IN HONG KONG ENJOY THE FREEDOM UNQUOTE WILL BY PUTTING FREEDOM UP FRONT AGAIN PERPETUATE THE CHINESE MYTH THAT THIS REPRESENTS A CHANGE IN POLICY BY HMG. I THINK THIS COULD BE AVOIDED BY SWITCHING THE ORDER OF THIS AND THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH, TAKING THE RULE OF LAW AS THE CORNERSTONE, AND THEN PRESENTING THE FREEDOM TO GO ABOUT BUSINESS WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM GOVERNMENT AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE RULE OF LAW. THE CHINESE WILL FIND IT MORE DIFFICULT TO REPRESENT THIS AS A DEPARTURE FROM THE FORMULAE IN THE JOINT DECLARATION.

THIS

2. IN THE SAME VEIN IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THERE WERE A REFERENCE TO STABILITY AND PROSPERITY SOMEWHERE UP FRONT. MIGHT BE ACHIEVED BY AMENDING THE FIFTH PARAGRAPH TO READ QUOTE IN THE JOINT DECLARATION: A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS HONG KONG WHOSE FUTURE UNQUOTE.

GALSWORTHY

Ok.

YYYY

HMLNAN 0305

HIKO 06/1