The Rt Hon Christopher Patten
bec PA
香港
總督府
HKCD 021/2
021/2
REC
INSE
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
MONG NG
1 5 JAN 1993
8 January 1993
tf
2 Harry,,.
I appreciate your taking the trouble to reply to my earlier letter.
what you say about US policy is of course a matter of opinion, and I remain among the many people who have great respect for yours. Certainly, I could not agree more that conflict between the US and China would be very damaging for the well-being of this whole region. In Hong Kong we stand to suffer more than anyone, which is why it is the last thing we would wish to provoke: and why, incidentally, I expect to be spending considerable time and effort this year arguing for the unconditional renewal of China's MFN.
My purpose in writing to you last month was not to dispute your interpretation of American thinking. I have no inside track on that. What I do have inside knowledge of is the process of British policy making on Hong Kong, which you seemed to think was somehow tied in with grander American plans. I thought it right simply to let you know the facts regarding my proposals and where they fit - or rather do not fit into all this fascinating strategical theory.
If, as you say, the Chinese are using the debate over my proposals to send signals to President Clinton, there is little we in Hong Kong can do about that. But from our point of view that would be very regrettable.
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