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The Right Honourable Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC (born 12 May 1944) is a prominent British Conservative politician. Originally a Member of Parliament, he lost his seat at a critical juncture in 1992 (when a Cabinet Minister and close to the Prime Minister of the day). Excluded from Parliament, he accepted the post of last Commander in Chief and British Governor of Hong Kong. After Hong Kong's return to the People's Republic of China, Patten became the European Commissioner for foreign relations. After leaving that post, he returned to the UK and was raised to the Peerage.

Early career

A Roman Catholic of at least partial Irish extraction, Patten was educated at St. Benedict's School in Ealing, and at Balliol College, Oxford. He worked in the Conservative Party from 1966, first as desk officer and then director (from 1974 to 1979) of the Conservative Research Department.

Patten was a Member of Parliament from 1979 to 1992, serving as Minister for Overseas Development at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1986 to 1989. In 1990, he was appointed to the Cabinet as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Chairman of the Conservative Party. He lost his seat for Bath to the Liberal Democrat candidate, Don Foster, in 1992. Ironically, as party chairman he was widely considered to be the main architect of the somewhat unexpected Conservative victory in the 1992 election.

Governor of Hong Kong

Had Patten been re-elected in 1992, he might have been rewarded by appointment as Foreign Secretary. In the event, in July 1992, he became the 28th and last Governor of Hong Kong until its handover to the People's Republic of China on 30 June 1997. He was given an official Chinese name, Pang Ting Hong/Peng Dingkang (彭定康), for his governorship, before which he was known in Hong Kong as "Pak Teng" (柏藤). Unlike previous Hong Kong Governors, he was not an official from the UK Foreign Office but a politician. However, he was not the first politician to become a Governor of Hong Kong. That honour goes to John Bowring, who was a Conservative MP before he entered Colonial Service.

During Patten's governorship, he extended the definition of functional constituencies and thus virtually every Hong Konger was able to vote for the so-called indirectly elected members (see Politics of Hong Kong) and so the Legislative Council could better represent the Hong Kong people. His measure was strongly objected to by the pro-Beijing political parties of Hong Kong, who suffered from the electoral changes, and he was criticized by the PRC government as an 'eternal sinner' (千古罪人). The institutional reform gained majority support in Hong Kong, however, and the criticism from the PRC government raised his popularity to a level he never enjoyed inside the UK. Hong Kongers also gave him the affectionate nickname, Fat Pang or Fei Pang, making him become the first and only governor to have a Chinese nickname.

After Hong Kong's handover, he left Hong Kong on 1 July 1997, together with The Prince of Wales, on board HM Yacht Britannia.

On 11 November 2005, he revisited Hong Kong to promote his new book, Not Quite the Diplomat—Home Truths about World Affairs (ISBN 0-713-99855-5). He also participated an opening ceremony of a bakery in Mongkok, Kowloon. He ate several egg tarts, a delicacy which he is reputed to enjoy.

"It makes me very emotional. As you know, I love Hong Kong. The five years I spent in Hong Kong were the happiest of my life and the happiest for my family. So it's always wonderful to come back."

When asked what he was going to discuss with Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, he replied,"I think we are going to talk about Shanghai crabs."

He also met with Li Ka-shing during his visit, and mentioned the education issues in Hong Kong.

Northern Ireland

From 1998 to 1999, he chaired the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, better known as the Patten Commission, which had been established in 1998 as part of the Belfast Agreement. On 9 September 1999, the Commission produced its report, entitled A New Beginning: Policing in Northern Ireland but popularly known as the Patten Report, which contained 175 symbolic and practical recommendations. This report led to the re-naming of the Royal Ulster Constabulary as the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

European Commissioner

In 1999, he was appointed one of the United Kingdom's two members of the Commission of the European Communities, with responsibility for Foreign Relations. He held this position within the Prodi Commission from 23 January 2000 until 22 November 2004. Although nominated for the post of President in the next Commission in 2004, he was unable to gain support from France and Germany. Once an unwelcome figure in the PRC, he was warmly greeted by PRC officials in his European Union role.

Not Quite the Diplomat

On 29 September 2005, he published his new book, Chris Patten, Not Quite the Diplomat; it is reported that this book will talk about world leaders.

Other positions

Lord Patten of Barnes is the Chancellor for the Universities of Newcastle and Oxford and a patron of the Tory Reform Group.

Family

He is married to Lavender, who is a barrister. They have three daughters -- Kate, Laura, and Alice; and two Norfolk terriers -- Whisky and Soda.

Honours

In 1998, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed him a Companion of Honour.

In September of 2005 he received an honourary doctorate of sacred letters from the University of Trinity College, Toronto.

Bibliography

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Books

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External links

• The Chris Patten Archive – This website aims to archive all articles, speeches and material by or about Chris Patten.
• Chris Patten's profile on BBC News website
• Chris Patten: Reflections on Hong Kong
• European Commissioner
• Patten Gets Peerage (BBC News Article)
• Still looking for trouble at (nearly) 60 – Jackie Ashley talks to Chris Patten

• 1944 births
• British MPs
• UK Conservative Party politicians
• Life peers
• British Secretaries of State
• Chancellors of the Duchy of Lancaster
• European Commissioners
• Members of the Privy Council
• Governors of Hong Kong
• Companions of Honour
• People associated with the University of Oxford
• Former students of Balliol College, Oxford