TNAG-2991-FCO40-3566-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 132

CONFIDENTIAL

050557

MDHIAN 5870

RESPONSIBLE CONFIDENTIALITY AND GENERALLY CONFINING HIMSELF TO EXPRESSING PLEASURE AT HIS RECEPTION IN LONDON AND AT MR. PATTEN'S APPOINTMENT.

4.

THE COMMUNIST PRESS HAS KEPT UP A BARRAGE OF CRITICISM AGAINST MARTIN LEE SINCE HIS MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER. FOLLOWING MR. GOODLAD'S REMARK, TODAY'S WEN WEI PAO AND TA KUNG PAO CARRY 7 ARTICLES ALL ARGUING THAT THE BASIC LAW CANNOT BE AMENDED BEFORE 1997. SEE OUR SEPARATE TELEGRAM FOR DETAILS.

5.

I FEAR THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THE CHINESE MAY NOW TRY TO HOLD THE AIRPORT DISCUSSIONS HOSTAGE, PENDING ASSURANCES ON THE POLITICAL FRONT. I WILL NO DOUBT BE PRESSED HARD ON HMG'S INTENTIONS WHEN I VISIT CHINA FROM 7 12 JUNE. MIFT SUGGESTS HOW I SHOULD DEAL WITH CHINESE CONCERNS.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

55

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

DISTRIBUTION

55

NEWS D PLANNERS

HKD

PUSD

FED//HD

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT .AND MS BROOKS

RAD

PS/MR GOODLAD

PS/MR PATTEN

SIR J COLES MR BURNS

NNNN

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CONFIDENTIAL