RESTRICTED
074177
MDLIAN 8800
APPOINTMENTS AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS. EXPLAINING MY PART IN THE WIDER PICTURE, I RAN THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD PROMOTING TRADE AND INVESTMENT, AND WHY I HAD BEEN PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO COME TO HONG KONG AND SUPPORT THE NEW GOVERNOR. HE LISTENED WITH INTEREST AND AGREED WITH EVERY POINT EXCEPT ONE, NAMELY MY SUPPORT FOR MR PATTEN. MR PATTEN HAD GOT IT ALL WRONG AND I WOULD BE WISE TO DISASSOCIATE OUR TRADE INTERESTS FROM HIS POLITICAL ACTIVITY.
6. I REPLIED FIRMLY AND FRANKLY. MR PATTEN HAD THE TOTAL SUPPORT OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND HE REPRESENTED BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY IN HONG KONG. AS THE SENIOR OFFICIAL OF HMG IN HONG KONG, MY LOYALTY TO HIM AS ABSOLUTE. THEY SHOULD APPRECIATE THAT. OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS DICTATED A POLICY OF LONG-TERM INVOLVEMENT WITH CHINA. I WENT THROUGH MR NEEDHAM'S ARGUMENTS FOR WORKING TOGETHER AGAINST PROTECTIONISM IN THE WORLD. FOR THE SUCCESS OF THAT POLICY, IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT HONG KONG BE GOVERNED FIRMLY AND FAIRLY UNTIL THE MOMENT OF TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY, BECAUSE BRITAIN, CHINA AND INDEED THE WHOLE INTERNATIONAL TRADING COMMUNITY WOULD NEED HONG KONG AS THE FINANCIAL AND SERVICES HUB OF THE REGION. HE CHOSE TO DIFFER ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S POLICIES BUT DID NOT LABOUR THE POINT, AND MY IMPRESSION OF THE MEETING WAS THAT IT WENT WELL.
7. CERTAINLY THE SUBSEQUENT CO-OPERATION ON ARRANGEMENTS TO VISIT GUANGZHOU HAS BEEN IMPECCABLE. ON THAT PLEASE SEE MIFT.
PATTEN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
18
HKD
FED
DISTRIBUTION
18
.T02/2D/PEP//HD
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/MINISTER FOR TRADE
SIRJ COLES
MR HUM
NNNN
2
PAGE
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