TNAG-2767-FCO40-3984-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 43

04-APR-1993 12:14

Gallagher

MR CHRIS PATTEN INT DAVID FROST

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0491 579838

P.14

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LONDON

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4 APRIL 1993

MR PATTEN:

There used to be a tradition that public servants, when they

retired, did not comment on what happened after them. I think

there is an equal and honourable tradition that one does not, if

one is doing a job, talk about the people who did it before. I

would like to continue that tradition and leave Sir Percy to do

whatever he wants.

INTERVIEWER:

But you are going to go out and have a merry weekend with him

while you are here, are you?

MR PATTEN:

I do not think we will be going on holiday together, no.

INTERVIEWER:

So looking at the immediate future, is there really any tangible evidence that there will be a change in the Chinese position, can

you see any softening of it at all?

MR PATTEN:

I can see the prospect of getting back into a dialogue with China, I think that is the only really sensible way forward, I very much hope that happens. For two or three months after I made the

proposals originally China said they would only talk to us if we withdrew the proposals, then that line changed. I very much hope that we will see another adjustment in China's position. For our