TNAG-2767-FCO40-3984-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 35

04-APR-1993

12:10

Gallagher

0491 579838

P.06

MR CHRIS PATTEN

J

INT DAVID FROST

LONDON 4 APRIL 1993

7

MR PATTEN:

We did of course tell them what we were proposing to do before I

made the announcement and it was not a fait accompli, it was a set

of proposals which we wanted to discuss with them and which we

still want to discuss with them, If there is a misunderstanding,

if there is a gulf, I think it is this. I am not sure that

Chinese leaders understand the relationship between Hong Kong's way of life, Hong Kong's freedoms, and Hong Kong's prosperity and

I think that is something that we need to assert and we need to

stand up for.

INTERVIEWER:

So you think the lack of understanding is on the Chinese side

rather than on your side?

MR PATTEN:

They are committed to the principle of one country-two systems. The system in Hong Kong is not just capitalism, the system in Hong Kong is the market economy operating within the rule of law, take away the rule of law and Hong Kong ceases to be the very special place that it is today.

INTERVIEWER:

Why could it not have had the rule of law without all this fuss, without these changes at all?