TNAG-2767-FCO40-3984-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 45

04-APR-1993

12:14

Gallagher

0491 579838

P.16

MR CHRIS PATTEN

Ma

INT DAVID FROST

APAR

LONDON 4 APRIL 1993

17 -

INTERVIEWER:

But China cannot stop you completing it?

1

MR PATTEN:

China can postpone the date by which it is completed, yes, unless we were to behave irresponsibly with Hong Kong's finances and I do

not want to do that. But with Chinese cooperation we can get that

airport built in time.

Nobody doubts that the airport will be

built, nobody seriously argues but that it is good for Hong Kong,

nobody except the deranged supposed that I will take it away with

me when I go.

INTERVIEWER:

But China can stop us completing it by 1997?

MR PATTEN:

Yes.

INTERVIEWER:

And China could invade Hong Kong in a matter of hours, is there any circumstances in which that might happen?

MR PATTEN:

No.

INTERVIEWER:

Why not?

Page 45Page 46

04-APR-1993

12:15