TNAG-2767-FCO40-3984-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 31

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MR CHRIS PATTEN INT DAVID FROST LONDON 4 APRIL 1993

MR PATTEN:

3

They are all assuming, which may be flattering but is incorrect,

are taking some huge step forward towards democracy with

the proposals that I have put forward and am still hoping to have

a chance of discussing with China at some stage.

INTERVIEWER:

When will they talk to you?

MR PATTEN:

As far as we are concerned we would talk to them tomorrow. We

have been pressing for talks since last autumn, we proposed them

again in February. The day before we were going to publish our

bill, as it were at the 11th hour, they agreed to talk. We then

had that extraordinary period of talks about talks and those talks

broke down because China insisted on a pre-condition and that is

that they wanted to make distinctions between the different

members of the British team. We have got no doubt at all that the

talks should be between the two sovereign powers, between Britain

and China, but an aspect of our sovereignty is we should be able

to determine what our team is like.

INTERVIEWER:

So when do you think they will talk because it is conceivable that

you will not exchange another word for the next 4 years?