TNAG-2767-FCO40-3984-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 32

WD-AFR-1993 7:56

Gallagher

0491 579838

P.02

MR CHRIS PATTEN

Gr

DAVID FROST INT

LONDON 4 APRIL 1993

MR PATTEN:

I do not think that is likely at all and they have asserted the

importance of cooperation.

There are all sorts of issues,

economic issues, on which we would welcome a bit more cooperation from China. But I am sure that we will get back into a dialogue. I am going to be Governor of Hong Kong, God willing, until 30 June 1997 and I am sure China will want to talk to the Governor of Hong

Kong between now and then.

INTERVIEWER:

Are there any circumstances at all in which Britain would delay

the handover of Hong Kong in 1997?

MR PATTEN:

None at all. We have agreed to that date, we have agreed, which goes back to an earlier question you asked, in the treaty between Britain and China, the so-called Joint Declaration, on ways in

And what the which we can guarantee Hong Kong's way of life. argument is about really at the moment, and it is why what I am doing is not, as you were suggesting, too late, what we are proposing is ways of electing the last Legislative Council under British sovereignty in a way which is clean and fair, that is what

the argument is about.