TNAG-2781-FCO40-4000-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 41

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

18.9.93

Law Chau-wai in

Wen Wei Po

18.9.93

Wah Sang in Wen Wei Po

20.9.93

Pui Yin in Wen

Wei Po

20.9.93

Lam Ling in Wen

Wei Po

21.9.93

Lam Chung-hiu in Wen Wei Po

CONFIDENTIAL

The Governor was trying to make use of public opinion when he said explanations would be required if the 1994/95 elections were to be entirely overturned in 1997. He has all along been fighting for the interests of his own country, making himself an international champion for

democracy and inserting pro-British

elements to the HK SAR to sustain colonial influence here.

The Governor has under-estimated the resolve of the Chinese Government to exercise its sovereignty over HK when he threatened to go it alone with his reform package.

By tabling the reform package, the British side would be creating more obstacles to the talks, thereby arousing dissatisfaction among the HK people.

The British side has wrongly assessed the situation in its hope that the Chinese side will give way when threatened with the prospect of a chaotic situation in HK. By creating more confrontation, Britain would lose its interests in HK and China. It would be too late to regret if it did not make a wise choice now.

Mr Patten has exposed his intention of sabotaging the talks and exerting pressure on China by repeating time and again the tabling of the reform package in Legco. This can hardly scare anybody. Apart from jeopardising HK's prosperity and stability, Britain's long-term interests in HK would also be at stake. He is to bear full responsibilities for the consequences.

CONFIDENTIAL

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