Page 4 Hong Kong greets Patten with a very Asian smile Beijing's sound and fury Hong Kong stocks, Page 39 China threatened to ignore the results of democratic elections proposed by Governor General for Hong Kong when China assumes power in 1997 . But Lu Ping did say that China always stands for co - operation , not confrontation . These remarks relieved the Hong Kong stock market which feared a more uncompromising stand . Lu Ping refrained from repeating economic threats made the previous year , but it is unlikely that he will win China 's agreement to complete the Hong Kong airport project . Britain 's ambassador to China regretted the personal attacks on Patten and said that decisions over Hong Kong were made by the British government as a whole .
China threatened to ignore the results of democratic elections proposed by Governor General for Hong Kong when China assumes power in 1997 . But Lu Ping did say that China always stands for co - operation , not confrontation . These remarks relieved the Hong Kong stock market which feared a more uncompromising stand . Lu Ping refrained from repeating economic threats made the previous year , but it is unlikely that he will win China 's agreement to complete the Hong Kong airport project . Britain 's ambassador to China regretted the personal attacks on Patten and said that decisions over Hong Kong were made by the British government as a whole .