LORD WILSON OF TILLYORN GCMG
PERSONAL
HOUSE
OF
LORDS
19 DRUMMOND PLACE EDINBURGH EH3 6PL TEL: 031-556-1305
1901
15 December 1993
Chris,
Many thanks for your letter of 30 November. It was good of you to respond in detail to the postscript on my letter about Princess Sirindhorn.
It is very disappointing that a first stage agreement has proved impossible. The negotiations must have been intensely frustrating, as I know only too well, particularly if there was a feeling that the Chinese slipped back from what they had earlier held out as possible. Nevertheless, a first stage agreement, which could have given a momentum, both privately and publicly, for reaching agreement on the much harder Legco issues seemed very worthwhile. To the extent one can glean from the newspapers, the gap that separated us (appointed members after 1997 and whether agreed election arrangements should be discussed separately for Legco) seems very small.
Perhaps there were other issues which have not yet come out. Perhaps too you have something up your sleeve: I hope so. The "unilateral" road looks pretty rocky and one cannot help worrying greatly about how, if we follow it, it will be possible to achieve the continuity of institutions through '97 we have tried so hard to achieve, quite apart from the side effects of a period of non co-operation.
line.
Like the iceberg, I hope there is more below the water-
Good luck anyhow; and may you, Lavender and the family
have a very good Christmas and New Year.
good
with ade deal wither.
The Rt Hon Christopher Patten
Government House
Upper Albert Road HONG KONG
تم
بله
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