Hong kong was not british, but we had played a part in creating it and we thought it unique. A sort of memoir, you describe your experience as governor of hong kong as the most interesting and worthwhile. For similarlynamed people, see chris patton disambiguation. The last governor of hong kong on power, freedom and the future, pan books, second edition, 1999, page 45. Patten was the last governor of hong kong and afterwards became europes commissioner for external relations. Charged with overseeing the transfer was chris patten, former chairman of the conservative party, who was appointed hong kong s last governor in 1992. The job of being mayor, as it were, of hong kong was terrific. After a week of relentlessly bad publicity over its abrupt decision to cancel a book by chris patten, hong kong s last british governor, harpercollins today took the highly unusual step of issuing. China threatening autonomy of hong kong, says chris patten.
Lord chris patten interview and opinion about hong kong. In 1965 he won a coolidge traveling scholarship to the usa. Chris patten, who first came to the fcc as a young mp in 1979, then in the early 90s as the last governor, and for three other book launches, was in town to promote his latest book which coincided with the aftermath of the jailing of joshua wong and the latest chapter of hong kongs proindependence tussle. In july 1997, hong kong ceased to be a british colony and passed into the hands of the peoples republic of china. Patten was the last british governor of hong kong, and during his five years there he gained a reputation as a combative opponent of the chinese communist government and as a champion of hong kongs nascent democracy. Drawing on his fiveyear experience as governor of hong kong before it was reclaimed by china, patten describes his attempts to introduce democracy to hong kong, discusses his relationships with chinese and western business and political interests, and shares his views on the future of eastwest relations.
First confessionis now available at sai kungs kidnapped and other book stores. Chris patten on hong kongs fight for democracy, and his latest memoir chris patten returned to hong kong and the fcc to promote his new book and to share his views on democracy in hong kong. Fans of chris patten will read his new book with growing worry. Jun 28, 2017 it happens that i do know china and hong kong a bit. The promise of sir chris patten to hong kong video. He is the author of several books on international affairs. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The last governor is an encyclopedic account of chris patten s governorship in hong kong 19921997. Within the last five years of british rule, acclaimed journalist. Chris patten has 18 books on goodreads with 1552 ratings. In july 1997, hong kong will ceased to be a british colony and wil. Chris patten will be interviewed by ft weekend editor alec russell at.
Lord patten served as the last british governor of hong kong from 19921997, overseeing the citys handover to china. Chris patten, the last british governor of hong kong, has warned that chinas threat to overrule the hong kong judiciary represents a dramatic threat to. Dimbleby was given unprecedented access to the inner working of hk government house, as well as backstage passes to some of its top bureaucrats. Jun 28, 2017 chris patten, the last british governor of hong kong. Bbc news analysis rupert murdoch faces authors revolt. Hong kong could ban chris patten, citys leader says.
The authors view was very clear and he made no apology for it. Former hong kong governor chris patten said on saturday that beijing and the sar government have taken yet another step towards burying one country, two systems with the arrests of 15 prominent. He is a wellknown conservative british politician, former member of the house of parliament, and the last governor of hong kong. Aug 03, 2018 1 july 1997 marked the end of british rule of hong kong, whereby this territory was passed into the hands of the people s republic of china. Christopher francis patten, baron patten of barnes, ch, pc chinese. Now hes back with a message for the party that some once thought he would lead. Englishnat hong kong s last british colonial governor, chris patten, returned to the territory for the first time since the 1997 handover to china. Oct 31, 2016 most famous for his role as the last british governor of hong kong, chris patten has occupied several high profile roles in politics and within charitable organisations. Chris patten on hong kongs fight for democracy, and his. Chinas hong kong at 20 by chris patten project syndicate. Patten is a charming, energetic and experienced politician, and his polished speeches hold. During his time as governor, he wrote a series of letters to hong kong which were broadcast on the local governmentfunded radio station, rthk. This book interweaves the stories of a unique city and a controversial politician.
In all of the books pattens formidable intellect is on display. Lord christopher patten is a man of historical prominence, as he oversaw the last british colony transferred to another power. Jun 28, 2017 twenty years after the hong kong handover, the politician issues a defence of liberal conservatism. Book chris patten for public speaking harry walker agency. Aug, 2019 hong kongs last british governor says protestors are up standing up for their freedoms, which have been whittled away under the chinese president xi jinping. Hong kong last session of legislative council youtube. An issue that had mobilized two million people to demonstrate peacefully then morphed into something much more complicated. Chris patten was a cradle catholic hence first confession, became on the most prominent tory wets of the 1980s and 1990s, and went on to hold a series of prominent public offices chairman of the conservative party, the last governor of hong kong, european commissioner for external affairs, chancellor of oxford university, chairman of the bbc, advisor to the pope as he self. Linda nylindthe guardian chinas leader, xi jinping, will make his debut visit to. Book politician chris patten as your conference speaker. Chinas hong kong problem by chris patten project syndicate. He was educated at st benedicts school, ealing and balliol college, oxford, where he read modern history and was elected a domus exhibitioner.
Chris patten, a former conservative party minister who governed hong kong from 1992 to 1997, helped push through constitutional reforms in the. Unforgettable tiananmen by chris patten project syndicate. Chris patten & the handover of hong kong e book free. Harpercollins itself has claimed that the book was simply not good enough, but mr pattens editor at harpercollins has said the opposite that the book was excellent. Hong kong s last governor, chris patten, has written to the citys leader after she refused to confirm he would not be barred from the territory by chinese authorities. Hong kong governor chris patten on wednesday 210 strongly criticised china for its plans to scrap hong kong s elected assembly. Appointed governor of hong kong in 1992, chris patten was to prepare the prosperous colony for communist chinese rule, a reversal of the independence normally associated with the end of colonialism, in 1997. China labels hong kongs last british governor chris. Home truths about world affairs is a book by chris patten, published by allen lane in september 2005. Chris patten, the last british governor of hong kong. The british foreign office has summoned the chinese ambassador to explain the seizure of two hong kong vessels by china. Christopher francis patten, baron patten of barnes, ch graduate of balliol college, university oxford 1965.
Chris patten, as britains last hong kong governor, was himself in beijing as the protests raged on between april and june 1989 that found a violent end with the tiananmen square massacre. Publisher apologizes to hong kong chief for canceled book. Sep 30, 2019 promised a share in president xi jinpings china dream, all hong kongs citizens could see was a nightmare. Oct 05, 2017 hong kongs last governor, chris patten, was recently in town to promote his new book, first confession. Chris patten addresses the packed september 2017 club lunch. First, the hong kong government seemed oblivious to popular concern. Most commentators are assuming that mr murdochs desire to do business in china is what lies behind the decision not to publish chris pattens hong kong memoir. In 1992, chris patten, former chairman of the conservative party, was appointed hong kong s last governor, and was the man to oversee the. China has lashed out at the last british governor of hong kong chris patten, calling him coldblooded after lord patten condemned the citys new. Sep 02, 2019 lord chris patten british last governor in hong kong interview and opinion about hong kong protests, one country two systems, democracy, president xi, ccp, ce carrie lam, foreign interference. The rt hon christopher patten has had a long and distinguished career in public and political life, and was the last governor of hong kong, overseeing the handover to china in 1997. With rare and priveleged access to the governor and his team, the author provides an insight into events leading up to the handover.
Chris patten has spent the past decade abroad first in hong kong, then in brussels. Sep 20, 2017 hong kongs last governor chris patten tried, and yet ultimately failed, to leave behind a democratic system after the citys 1997 handover to china all whilst under massive pressure from. If chris patten truly cares for hong kong, he should fight. Chris patten, the last british governor of hong kong, ended his fiveyear term almost exactly one year ago. Nevertheless, it is true that on 1 july 1997 hong kong became the only example of decolonization deliberately accompanied by less democracy and a weaker protection of civil liberties. Soldiers participate in a military parade as part of the hong kong handover ceremonies on june 30, 1997. Free hong kong former hong kong governor chris patten. One might expect, therefore, that his book would be another. Linda nylindthe guardian chinas leader, xi jinping, will make his debut visit to the former colony as president, presiding. Chris patten was born on may 12th 1944 in the town of cleveleys in lancashire. In 1992, chris patten, former chairman of the conservative party, was appointed hong kong s last governor, and was the man to oversee the handover ceremony of this former british colony. The job of negotiating with the chinese i wouldnt say was terrific, because i was dealing with what was called the. Chris patten is a close friend of the former prime minister john major and following the loss of his parliamentary seat he was seen as the ideal candidate to oversee the handover of hong kong to. For this reason, the appointment of the former chairman of the conservative party, chris patten, in june 1992 as the last governor of hong kong, was greeted with widespread approval.
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