View source for Chris Patten

{{Short description|British politician (born 1944)}}
{{similar names|Chris Patton (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = The Lord Patten of Barnes
| honorific_suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KG|CH|PC}}
| image               = Official portrait of Lord Patten of Barnes crop 2.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2019
| office              = [[Chancellor of the University of Oxford]]
| 1blankname          = {{nowrap|[[Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford|Vice-Chancellor]]}}
| 1namedata           = {{ubl|[[Colin Lucas|Sir Colin Lucas]]|[[Sir John Hood]]|[[Andrew D. Hamilton]]|[[Louise Richardson]]|[[Irene Tracey]]}}
| term_start          = 20 September 2003
| term_end            = 31 July 2024
| predecessor         = [[Roy Jenkins]]
| successor           = [[William Hague]]
| office1             = [[European Commissioner for External Relations]]
| president1          = {{ubl|[[Romano Prodi]]|[[José Manuel Barroso]]}}
| nominator1          = [[Tony Blair]]
| term_start1         = 16 September 1999
| term_end1           = 22 November 2004
| predecessor1        = [[Leon Brittan]]
| successor1          = [[Benita Ferrero-Waldner]]
| order2              = 28th
| office2             = Governor of Hong Kong
| monarch2            = [[Elizabeth II]]
| 1blankname2         = {{nowrap|[[Chief Secretary for Administration|Chief Secretary]]}}
| 1namedata2          = {{ubl|[[David Ford (civil servant)|Sir David Ford]]|[[Anson Chan]]}}
| term_start2         = 9 July 1992<ref>{{cite news |title=Mr Patten Arrives |url=https://search.grs.gov.hk/repository/img?ori=1&id=H3Ywr4odfoG2U7%2FxGKSPTw%3D%3D |access-date=6 August 2024 |work=Daily Information Bulletin |publisher=Hong Kong Government Information Services |date=9 July 1992}}</ref>
| term_end2           = 30 June 1997
| predecessor2        = [[David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn|David Wilson]]
| successor2          = [[Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong|''Office abolished'']]<br />[[Tung Chee-hwa]]<br />(as [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong]])
| office3             = [[Chairman of the Conservative Party]]
| leader3             = [[John Major]]
| term_start3         = 28 November 1990
| term_end3           = 11 May 1992
| predecessor3        = [[Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking|Kenneth Baker]]
| successor3          = [[Norman Fowler]]
{{collapsed infobox section begin |Ministerial offices
 |titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office4 = [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]]
| primeminister4 = [[John Major]]
| term_start4 = 28 November 1990
| term_end4 = 10 April 1992
| predecessor4 = Kenneth Baker
| successor4 = [[William Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill|William Waldegrave]]
| office5 = [[Secretary of State for the Environment]]
| primeminister5 = [[Margaret Thatcher]]
| term_start5 = 24 July 1989
| term_end5 = 28 November 1990
| predecessor5 = [[Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale|Nicholas Ridley]]
| successor5 = [[Michael Heseltine]]
| office6 = [[Minister for Overseas Development]]
| primeminister6 = [[Margaret Thatcher]]
| term_start6 = 10 September 1986
| term_end6 = 24 July 1989
| predecessor6 = [[Timothy Raison]]
| successor6 = [[Lynda Chalker]]
{{collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{collapsed infobox section begin |cont=y |Parliamentary offices
 |titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office7 = [[Member of the House of Lords]]<br />[[Lord Temporal]]
| term_start7 = 11 January 2005<br />[[Life peer]]age
| office8 = [[President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong]]
| term_start8 = 9 July 1992
| term_end8 = 19 February 1993
| monarch8 = Elizabeth II
| deputy8 = [[John Joseph Swaine|Sir John Joseph Swaine]]
| predecessor8 = David Wilson
| successor8 = Sir John Joseph Swaine
| parliament9 = United Kingdom
| constituency_MP9 = [[Bath (UK Parliament constituency)|Bath]]
| term_start9 = 3 May 1979
| term_end9 = 16 March 1992
| predecessor9 = [[Edward Brown (British politician)|Edward Brown]]
| successor9 = [[Don Foster, Baron Foster of Bath|Don Foster]]
{{collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{collapsed infobox section begin |cont=y |last=y |Academic positions
 |titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office11 = [[Chancellor of Newcastle University]]
| 1blankname11 = {{nowrap|Vice Chancellor}}
| 1namedata11 = {{ubl|[[James Wright (classicist)|James Wright]]|[[Christopher Edwards (clinician)|Christopher Edwards]]|[[Chris Brink]]}}
| term_start11 = 5 October 1999
| term_end11 = 5 October 2009
| predecessor11 = [[Matthew White Ridley, 4th Viscount Ridley|Matthew White Ridley]]
| successor11 = [[Liam Donaldson]]{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
| office12            = Chairman of the [[BBC Trust]]
| term_start12        = 1 May 2011
| term_end12          = 6 May 2014
| predecessor12       = [[Sir Michael Lyons]]
| successor12         = {{ubli|[[Diane Coyle]] (acting)|[[Rona Fairhead, Baroness Fairhead]]}}
| birth_name          = Christopher Francis Patten
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1944|5|12|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Cleveleys]], [[Lancashire]], England<ref name="John Tepper Marlin Lord Patten"/>
| party               = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Lavender Thornton]]|11 September 1971}}
| children            = 3, including [[Alice Patten|Alice]]
| education           = [[St Benedict's School, Ealing]]
| alma_mater          = [[Balliol College, Oxford]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| awards              = {{ubl|[[Order of the Companions of Honour]] (1998)|Commander of the [[Legion of Honour]] (2016)|[[Order of the Garter]] (2023)}}
| signature           = 
| module              = {{Infobox Chinese <!--|title=Chris Patten--> |child=yes|c={{linktext|lang=zh|彭|定|康}} |j=paang4 ding6 hong1 |p=Péng Dìngkāng}}
}}

'''Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes''' ({{zh|c=彭定康}};<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/press-review-40429251 |script-title=zh:英媒：香港移交20年彭定康遺憾在哪裏？ |trans-title=British media: 20 years after the Hong Kong handover, what does Chris Patten regret? |language=zh |date=28 June 2017 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> born 12 May 1944), is a British politician who was the [[Chairman of the Conservative Party]] from 1990 to 1992, and the 28th and last [[Governor of Hong Kong]] from 1992 to 1997. He was made a [[life peer]] in 2005 and served as [[Chancellor of the University of Oxford]] from 2003 to 2024. He is one of two living former governors of Hong Kong, alongside [[David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn|David Wilson]]. 

Patten was born in [[Thornton-Cleveleys]] in Lancashire and subsequently raised in west London. He studied history at [[Balliol College, Oxford]], and, after graduating in 1965, he began working for the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]].

Patten was [[List of MPs elected in the 1979 United Kingdom general election|elected Member of Parliament]] for [[Bath (UK Parliament constituency)|Bath]] in [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]]. He was appointed [[Secretary of State for the Environment]] by [[Margaret Thatcher]] in 1989 as part of her [[Third Thatcher ministry|third ministry]], becoming responsible for implementation of the unpopular [[Poll tax (Great Britain)|poll tax]]. On [[John Major]]'s succession as [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] in 1990, Patten became Chairman of the Conservative Party and [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]]. As party chairman, he successfully orchestrated a surprise [[1992 United Kingdom general election|Conservative electoral victory in 1992]], but lost his own seat.

Patten was then appointed the last governor of [[British Hong Kong|Hong Kong]], to oversee the final years of British administration in the colony and prepare for its [[Handover of Hong Kong|transfer to China]] in 1997. During his tenure, his government significantly expanded the territory's social welfare programmes and introduced [[1994 Hong Kong electoral reform|democratic reforms]] to the electoral system.<ref>Jonathan Dimbleby, ''The Last Governor: Chris Patten and the Handover of Hong Kong''</ref>

Following his governorship, Patten led the [[Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland]], a major implementation step of the [[Northern Ireland peace process]] pursuant to the [[Good Friday Agreement]] from 1998 to 1999. He was [[European Commissioner for External Relations]] from 1999 to 2004 and Chairman of the [[BBC Trust]] from 2011 to 2014.

{{TOC limit|limit=3}}

== Early life and education ==
Patten was born in [[Thornton-Cleveleys]] in Lancashire, where his mother had fled to from [[Exeter]], which had recently been significantly damaged by the [[Baedeker raids]]. Patten grew up in an Irish Catholic family in west London, the son of an unsuccessful music publisher whose ancestors had come to England from [[County Roscommon]], Ireland.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Denis|last=Staunton|title=Brexit: 'Ideological crap about sovereignty and taking back control'|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/brexit-ideological-crap-about-sovereignty-and-taking-back-control-1.3162551|access-date=2021-09-30|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref> Patten's father, Frank, dropped out<ref name="bbc/news/hk/patten"/> of university to become a jazz-drummer, later, a popular-music publisher. Frank and his mother Joan sent him to a Catholic primary school, [[Our Lady of The Visitation Roman Catholic Primary School|Our Lady of the Visitation]], in [[Greenford]], and later awarded a scholarship<ref name="bbc/news/hk/patten"/><ref name="themilsource/who-patten">{{cite web |author1=krystalyang38 |title=Who is Lord Chris Patten? |url=https://themilsource.com/2020/09/22/who-is-lord-chris-patten/ |website=The Millennial Source Ltd. |access-date=28 March 2023 |language=en |date=22 September 2020}}</ref> to the independent [[St Benedict's School, Ealing|St Benedict's School]] in [[Ealing]], west London, where he won an exhibition<ref name="John Tepper Marlin Lord Patten">{{cite web |last1=Marlin |first1=John Tepper |author1-link=John Tepper Marlin |title=REUNION: Europe in Madrid – Lord Patten |url=https://theoxbridgepursuivant.blogspot.com/2013/04/oxford-madrid-reunion-dinner-at-posada.html |website=The Oxbridge Pursuivant |publisher=[[blogspot]] |access-date=28 March 2023 |date=28 April 2013|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328040006/https://theoxbridgepursuivant.blogspot.com/2013/04/oxford-madrid-reunion-dinner-at-posada.html |archive-date=28 March 2023 }}</ref><ref name="sylviavetta/patten-interview">
*{{cite web |last1=Vetta |first1=Sylvia |title=Brilliant interview with Chris Patten – I enjoyed my interview with him . |url=https://www.sylviavetta.co.uk/2019/07/29/brilliant-interview-with-chris-patten-i-enjoyed-my-interview-with-him/ |website=Sylvia Vetta |access-date=28 March 2023 |date=29 July 2019}}
*{{cite web |last1=Vetta |first1=Sylvia |title=Chris Patten |url=https://www.sylviavetta.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Chris-patten.pdf |website=Sylvia Vetta |access-date=28 March 2023}}
</ref> to read Modern History at [[Balliol College, Oxford]].

After graduating with a second-class honours degree in 1965 and winning a William Coolidge Pathfinder Award<ref name="balliol.ox.ac.uk/pathfinders-awards">{{cite web |title=William Westerman Pathfinders awards to North America |url=https://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/current-members/financial-support/william-westerman-pathfinders-awards |website=[[Balliol College]], University of Oxford |access-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103133825/https://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/current-members/financial-support/william-westerman-pathfinders-awards |archive-date=3 January 2023 |language=en |quote=The original Pathfinders programme at Balliol was started in 1955 by [[Bill Coolidge]] (Balliol 1924).}}</ref><ref name="europarl/dg3/com/patten">{{cite web |title=Chris Patten |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/dg3/com/en/patten.htm |website=Confirmation hearings |publisher=[[European Parliament]] |access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Travel Grants |url=https://www.univ.ox.ac.uk/learn-at-univ/travel-grants/ |website=Grants & Scholarships |publisher=University College Oxford |access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref> travelling scholarship to the US,<ref name="bsg.ox.ac.uk/Patten-lecture">{{cite web |title=Patten Lecture: China and Europe in a less certain world |url=https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/events/public-lecture-china-and-europe-less-certain-world |website=[[Blavatnik School of Government]] |access-date=28 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="encyclopedia/patten-chris-1944">{{cite web |title=Patten, Chris 1944– |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/patten-chris-1944 |website=[[Encyclopedia.com]] |access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |quote=I only went to the Oxford Union once. What turned me on to politics was getting a travelling scholarship to the USA. In New York, I got involved in the mayoral campaign of John Lindsay, a liberal Republican who wound up a Democrat, and I got the bug |last1=Sale |first1=Jonathan |title=Passed/Failed: An Education in the Life of Lord Patten, last governor of Hong Kong and University Chancellor |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/passedfailed-an-education-in-the-life-of-lord-patten-last-governor-of-hong-kong-and-university-969102.html |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref><ref name="cherwell/2012/03/01/travel-grant">{{cite news |last1=Gerretsen |first1=Isabelle |title=Travel grant offered to Eton students only |url=https://cherwell.org/2012/03/01/travel-grant-offered-to-eton-students-only/ |access-date=28 March 2023 |work=[[Cherwell (newspaper)|Cherwell]] |publisher=[[Oxford University]] |date=1 March 2012}}</ref> Patten worked for the campaign of then-Republican New York Mayor [[John Lindsay]], where he reported on the television performance of rival [[William F. Buckley Jr]].<ref>Hilton, Isabel, "Profile: For God and the right", ''The Independent'', 14 November 1993</ref> He worked for the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] from 1966,{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} first as desk officer and then director (from 1974 to 1979) of the [[Conservative Research Department]].<ref name="bbc/news/hk/patten">{{cite news |title=Chris Patten – Governor of Hong Kong |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/hk/patten.shtml |access-date=28 March 2023 |work=Politics 97 |publisher=bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

== Member of Parliament: 1979–1992 ==
Patten was the Conservative Party candidate for [[Lambeth Central]] at the [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|February 1974]] general election, but lost to the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] candidate, [[Marcus Lipton]]. He was elected as the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for Bath in 1979, and served until he was unseated in 1992.

=== In government ===
Patten was appointed [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary]] for the [[Northern Ireland Office]] in June 1983. He was promoted to be a [[Minister of State]] in the [[Department for Education and Skills (United Kingdom)|Department of Education and Science]] in September 1985, and was named [[Minister for Overseas Development]] at the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] in September 1986.

In 1989, he was promoted to the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] as [[Secretary of State for the Environment]] and became responsible for the unpopular [[Community Charge]] (or so-called "Poll Tax"). Though he robustly defended the policy at the time, in his 2006 book ''[[Not Quite the Diplomat]]'' (published in the United States as ''Cousins and Strangers: America, Britain and Europe in the New Century'') he claims to have thought it was a mistake on [[Margaret Thatcher]]'s part. He also introduced, and steered through Parliament, the major legislation that became the [[Environmental Protection Act 1990]].

In 1990, [[John Major]] made Patten [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]] and [[Chairman of the Conservative Party]], with responsibility for organising the Conservative Party's re-election campaign for the upcoming general election. As party chairman, he was widely considered to be the main architect of the somewhat unexpected [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] victory at the 1992 general election. However, he lost his marginal seat of [[Bath (UK Parliament constituency)|Bath]] to the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] candidate [[Don Foster, Baron Foster of Bath|Don Foster]] at that election. Patten's defeat was attributed to factors such as the [[Poll tax (Great Britain)|Poll Tax]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Why I'm standing down from Parliament: Don Foster, MP for Bath|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11577373/Why-Im-standing-down-from-Parliament-Don-Foster-MP-for-Bath.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11577373/Why-Im-standing-down-from-Parliament-Don-Foster-MP-for-Bath.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-30|website=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 May 2015 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Governor of Hong Kong: 1992–1997 ==
[[File:President Bill Clinton meeting with Governor Chris Patton.webm|thumb|Patten meeting with U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] at the [[White House]] in 1993]]
If Patten had been re-elected in 1992, sections of the media thought he would have been rewarded by appointment as Foreign Secretary, although in his autobiography [[John Major]] said that he would have made Patten [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]].

Patten turned down offers of a new post and instead, in July 1992, he became the 28th and the last [[governor of Hong Kong]] until its transfer of sovereignty to [[China]] on 30 June 1997. He was given an official [[Chinese name]], Pang Ting-hong ({{zh|c=彭定康}}), a name with an etymology based on the words "stability" and "calm; joyous; healthy". Unlike most previous Hong Kong governors, he was not a career diplomat from the UK Foreign Office although he was not the first former MP to become a governor of Hong Kong.<ref>[[Sir John Bowring]] (''Governor of Hong Kong 1854–1859'') and [[Sir John Pope Hennessy]] (''Governor of Hong Kong 1877–1882'') – a Conservative MP before he entered the Colonial Service – were predecessors.</ref>

Patten's tenure faced several different challenges, as many in Hong Kong were still reeling from the [[Tiananmen Square massacre]] a few years earlier. However the general public regarded him positively. He took steps to get in touch with the people of the colony, and was known for his penchant for taking public strolls around Hong Kong as well as in the media limelight. Hongkongers nicknamed him Fat Pang ({{zh|links=no|c=肥彭}}), making him the only governor to have a widely recognised Chinese nickname.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://us.rediff.com/getahead/2006/mar/13ga-inter.htm |title='India is a big priority' at Oxford |work=Rediff.com |access-date=30 June 2010}}</ref>

In contrast to his predecessors, Patten decided not to wear the official [[Court uniform and dress in the United Kingdom|Court uniform]] on formal occasions.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Patten|first=Chris|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wmq_9TtdvAgC&dq=%2522chris%2520patten%2522%2520%2522deceased%2520hen%2522&pg=PA52|title=East and West|date=2012-11-01|publisher=Pan Macmillan|isbn=978-1-4472-3547-7|language=en}}</ref> Patten's approval rating in Hong Kong in April 1992 was 53% and ended his tenure with an approval rating of 59.7%.<ref>[https://www.hkupop.hku.hk/english/archive/poppolls/chris/poll/chart/month1.gif] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222055534/https://www.hkupop.hku.hk/english/archive/poppolls/chris/poll/chart/month1.gif|date=22 February 2022}}</ref>

Patten's most controversial actions in Hong Kong are related to the [[1994 Hong Kong electoral reform|1994 electoral reform]]. LegCo members returned in 1995 were originally to serve beyond the Handover, thereby providing institutional continuity across the transition of Hong Kong to the PRC. [[Beijing]] had expected that the use of [[Functional constituency (Hong Kong)|functional constituencies]] with limited electorates would be used to elect this council, however Patten 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]]) of the Legislative Council.

The [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]] became a [[1995 Hong Kong legislative election|fully elected legislature]] for the first time in 1995 and extensively expanded its functions and organisations throughout the last years of colonial rule.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gargan |first1=Edward A. |title=Pro-China Party Appears Big Loser in Hong Kong Election |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/18/world/pro-china-party-appears-big-loser-in-hong-kong-election.html |work=The New York Times |date=18 September 1995}}</ref>

Patten's actions were strongly criticised by the pro-Beijing political parties of Hong Kong. Patten was also denounced by some Chinese media and politicians as the "whore of the East" and a "serpent", and was most famously called a "sinner who would be condemned for a thousand generations" ({{zh|links=no|c=千古罪人}}) by [[Lu Ping]], the head of China's [[Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/trad/hi/newsid_1910000/newsid_1910800/1910806.stm |work=BBC News |language=zh-Hant |script-title=zh:彭定康：寬宏對待中國罵名 |date=4 April 2002 |access-date=1 April 2010}}</ref> The legislative council which was elected under Patten's governorship was dissolved upon the handover of Hong Kong to the PRC and replaced by a [[Provisional Legislative Council]] which did not have any democratic functions until elections were held under the previous rules in 1998.

At midnight Hong Kong Time 1 July 1997 (16:00 GMT, 30 June 1997), he sent the telegram: "I have relinquished the administration of this government. God Save The Queen. Patten."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-09-06|title=Chris Patten: from 'double whammy' to 'Fat Pang'|url=https://www.channel4.com/news/lord-chris-patten-bbc-mark-thompson-hong-kong|access-date=2021-09-30|website=Channel 4 News|language=en-GB}}</ref> This marked the end of British rule in Hong Kong. After the [[Hong Kong handover ceremony|handover ceremony]] he left the city, together with [[Prince Charles]], on board the British royal yacht, [[HMY Britannia|HMY ''Britannia'']]. Patten was noted to be in tears throughout the day, notably after his speech at Tamar.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/july/1/newsid_3020000/3020860.stm |title=BBC ON THIS DAY {{pipe}} 1997: Hong Kong fireworks |work=BBC News |date=1 July 1997 |access-date=30 June 2010}}</ref> He has since commented that his governorship of Hong Kong was a happy time for him personally as he shared this experience with his wife and children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2099806/chris-patten-recalls-happiest-years-last-governor-hong-kong|title=Chris Patten recalls egg tarts, insults and a pirated memoir|date=24 June 2017}}</ref>

=== Patten government ===
{{Cabinet table start|hiderefcol=y}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Governor of Hong Kong|Governor]]
 | minister1              = Chris Patten
 | minister1_termstart    = 9 July 1992
 | minister1_termend      = 30 June 1997
 | minister1_party        = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Chief Secretary for Administration|Chief Secretary]]
 | minister1              = [[David Ford (civil servant)|David Ford]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 12 February 1987
 | minister1_termend      = 28 November 1993
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Anson Chan]]
 | minister2_termstart    = 29 November 1993
 | minister2_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Financial Secretary of Hong Kong|Financial Secretary]]
 | minister1              = [[Hamish Macleod]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 12 August 1991
 | minister1_termend      = 31 August 1995
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Donald Tsang]]
 | minister2_termstart    = 1 September 1995
 | minister2_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Justice (Hong Kong)|Attorneys General]]
 | minister1              = [[Jeremy Fell Mathews|Jeremy Mathews]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 1 April 1988
 | minister1_termend      = 30 June 1997
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology|Secretary for Broadcasting, Culture and Sport]]
 | minister1              = [[James So]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 8 June 1991
 | minister1_termend      = November 1995
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Chau Tak-hay|Brian Chau]]
 | minister2_termstart    = 20 November 1995
 | minister2_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for the Civil Service]]
 | minister1              = [[Barrie Wiggham]]
 | minister1_termstart    = April 1990
 | minister1_termend      = April 1993
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Anson Chan]]
 | minister2_termstart    = 19 April 1993
 | minister2_termend      = October 1993
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister3              = [[Michael Sze]]
 | minister3_termstart    = 1 February 1994
 | minister3_termend      = 11 February 1996
 | minister3_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister4              = [[Lam Woon-kwong]]
 | minister4_termstart    = 12 February 1996
 | minister4_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister4_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Trade and Industry]]
 | minister1              = [[Chau Tak-hay]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 20 May 1991
 | minister1_termend      = November 1995
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Denise Yue]]
 | minister2_termstart    = November 1995
 | minister2_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Constitutional Affairs]]
 | minister1              = [[Michael Sze]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 30 October 1991
 | minister1_termend      = 27 January 1994
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Nicholas Ng]]
 | minister2_termstart    = 28 January 1994
 | minister2_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Economic Services]]
 | minister1              = [[Anson Chan]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 23 March 1987
 | minister1_termend      = April 1993
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Gordon Siu]]
 | minister2_termstart    = 28 April 1993
 | minister2_termend      = June 1996
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister3              = [[Stephen Ip]]
 | minister3_termstart    = June 1996
 | minister3_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister3_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Education and Manpower]]
 | minister1              = [[John Chan]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 1991
 | minister1_termend      = 1993
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Leung Man-kin]]
 | minister2_termstart    = October 1984
 | minister2_termend      = January 1987
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister3              = [[Joseph Wong]]
 | minister3_termstart    = August 1995
 | minister3_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister3_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Environment and Ecology|Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands]]
 | minister1              = [[Anthony Gordon Eason]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 1 April 1992
 | minister1_termend      = May 1995
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Bowen Leung]]
 | minister2_termstart    = 15 May 1995
 | minister2_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Financial Services]]<br /><small>Secretary for Monetary Affairs before April 1993</small>
 | minister1              = [[Michael David Cartland]]
 | minister1_termstart    = January 1993
 | minister1_termend      = 1995
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Rafael Hui]]
 | minister2_termstart    = 4 September 1995
 | minister2_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Health and Welfare]]
 | minister1              = [[Elizabeth Wong (author)|Elizabeth Wong]]
 | minister1_termstart    = January 1990
 | minister1_termend      = September 1994
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Katherine Fok]]
 | minister2_termstart    = September 1994
 | minister2_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Home Affairs]]
 | minister1              = [[Michael Suen]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 7 November 1991
 | minister1_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Housing]]
 | minister1              = [[Dominic Wong]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 15 December 1994
 | minister1_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Security]]
 | minister1              = [[Alistair Asprey]]
 | minister1_termstart    = February 1990
 | minister1_termend      = February 1995
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Peter Lai Hing-ling|Peter Lai]]
 | minister2_termstart    = February 1995
 | minister2_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Transport]]
 | minister1              = [[Michael Leung]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 9 February 1987
 | minister1_termend      = May 1993
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Yeung Kai-yin]]
 | minister2_termstart    = June 1993
 | minister2_termend      = September 1993
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister3              = [[Haider Barma]]
 | minister3_termstart    = October 1993
 | minister3_termend      = June 1996
 | minister3_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister4              = [[Gordon Siu]]
 | minister4_termstart    = June 1996
 | minister4_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister4_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for the Treasury]]
 | minister1              = [[Yeung Kai-yin]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 2 May 1991
 | minister1_termend      = 6 May 1993
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Donald Tsang]]
 | minister2_termstart    = 7 May 1993
 | minister2_termend      = 31 March 1995
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister3              = [[Kwong Ki-chi]]
 | minister3_termstart    = 1 April 1995
 | minister3_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister3_party        = Non-partisan
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                  = [[Secretary for Development|Secretary for Works]]
 | minister1              = [[Ronald James Blake]]
 | minister1_termstart    = 1 April 1992
 | minister1_termend      = May 1995
 | minister1_party        = Non-partisan
 | minister2              = [[Kwong Hon-sang]]
 | minister2_termstart    = 15 May 1995
 | minister2_termend      = [[First Tung government|Tung I]]
 | minister2_party        = Non-partisan
}}
|}

== Post-governorship ==
[[File:Official photo of Christopher Patten (cropped).jpg|thumb|Patten in 1999]]
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'' and popularly known as the ''Patten Report'', which contained 175 symbolic and practical recommendations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/police/patten/recommend.htm |title=The Patten Report on Policing: Summary of Recommendations, 9&nbsp;September 1999 |publisher=CAIN |date=9 September 1999 |access-date=30 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513195243/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/police/patten/recommend.htm |archive-date=13 May 2008}}</ref> This report led to the disbanding of the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]] and establishment of the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]]. He is the co-chair of [[International Crisis Group]], overseeing many international operations. He is also a member of the [[Global Leadership Foundation]], an organisation which works to promote good governance around the world. On 23 May 2005 he was appointed by [[Cadbury]] as a non-executive director.<ref>[http://www.cadbury.com/MEDIA/PRESS/Pages/lordpatten.aspx] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115103917/http://www.cadbury.com/MEDIA/PRESS/Pages/lordpatten.aspx|date=15 January 2010}}</ref>

=== European Commissioner: 1999–2004 ===
[[File:US-EU Ministerial Joint Press Conference 2004.jpg|thumb|Patten ''(left)'' with [[Brian Cowen]], [[Colin Powell]] and [[Javier Solana]] in March 2004]]
In 1999, he was appointed as one of the United Kingdom's two members to the [[European Commission]] as [[Commissioner for External Relations]] where he was responsible for the Union's development and co-operation programmes, as well as liaison with [[Javier Solana]], the [[High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy]]. He held this position within the [[Prodi Commission]] from 23 January 2000 until 22 November 2004. Patten oversaw many crises in the area of [[Foreign relations of the European Union|European foreign policy]], most notably the failure of the European Union to come up with a common unified policy before the [[Iraq War]] in 2003. Although nominated for the post of [[President of the European Commission|President]] in the next Commission in 2004, he was unable to gain support from France and Germany.

According to information from [[WikiLeaks]], Patten was in Moscow in April 2004 and had concluded EU–Russia ministerial consultations in Brussels. He considered that the EU had become overly dependent on Russian energy supplies, and should become more engaged with the countries of the [[Caucasus]] and [[Central Asia]] in order to diversify supplies.<ref name="wikileaks">[http://46.59.1.2/cable/2004/04/04BRUSSELS1868.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203181058/http://46.59.1.2/cable/2004/04/04BRUSSELS1868.html|date=3 December 2010}}</ref>

Patten was the biggest proponent in the commission for [[Turkey]]'s [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|accession to the European Union]].<ref name="wikileaks"/>

According to information from the US Embassy in Brussels (published by WikiLeaks in November 2010): Patten said in April 2004 that Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] has done a good job for Russia mainly due to high world energy prices, but he had serious doubts about the man's character. Cautioning that "I'm not saying that genes are determinant," Patten then reviewed the Putin family history – grandfather part of Lenin's special protection team; father a communist party apparatchik, and Putin himself decided at a young age to pursue a career in the KGB. "He seems a completely reasonable man when discussing the Middle East or energy policy, but when the conversation shifts to Chechnya or Islamic extremism, Putin's eyes turn to those of a killer."

=== University roles and elevation to the peerage ===
[[File:Chris Patten Chancellor University of Oxford 20050317.jpg|thumb|110px|Patten in ceremonial dress as the [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] of the University of Oxford]]
Patten was Chancellor of [[Newcastle University]] from 1999 to 2009. [[2003 University of Oxford Chancellor election|In 2003]], he was elected [[Chancellor of the University of Oxford]].

In 2016, in the wake of a student movement to remove the statue of [[Cecil Rhodes]] from a college in Oxford, as had happened in [[South Africa]], Patten said that Oxford students who were not "prepared to show the generosity of spirit which [[Nelson Mandela]] showed towards Rhodes and towards history{{nbsp}}... should think about being educated elsewhere".<ref>{{cite news |last=Espinoza |first=Javier |title=Oxford University students who don't like Cecil Rhodes should 'think about being educated elsewhere', says chancellor|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/12096928/Oxford-University-students-who-dont-like-Cecil-Rhodes-should-think-about-being-educated-elsewhere-says-chancellor.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/12096928/Oxford-University-students-who-dont-like-Cecil-Rhodes-should-think-about-being-educated-elsewhere-says-chancellor.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London, United Kingdom |access-date=14 January 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Patten retired as chancellor of the University of Oxford on 31 July 2024, ahead of his 80th birthday and after 21 years in post.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/university-officers/chancellor|title=Chancellor|publisher=University of Oxford|access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Patten of Barnes|first=Lord|date=26 January 2024|url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/content/lord-patten-s-letter-retirement-vice-chancellor-professor-irene-tracey|title=Lord Patten's letter of retirement to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey|publisher=University of Oxford|access-date=5 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Clarence-Smith |first=Louisa |date=5 February 2024 |title=Lord Patten announces his retirement as Oxford University chancellor ahead of his 80th birthday |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/05/lord-patten-retirement-oxford-university-chancellor/ |work=The Telegraph |access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref> The election of his successor ([[William Hague]]), to a ten-year term, was scheduled to take place in late October and early November.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/university-officers/chancellor/chancellor-election|title=Election of the next Chancellor|publisher=University of Oxford|access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref>

On 11 January 2005 Patten was created a [[life peer]] as ''Baron Patten of Barnes, of [[Barnes, London|Barnes]] in the [[London Borough of Richmond]]''.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=57533 |date=17 January 2005 |page=449}}</ref>

=== Chairman of the BBC Trust: 2011–2014 ===
On the advice of the [[Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government]] led by Prime Minister [[David Cameron]], Patten was appointed by the [[Queen-in-Council]] as Chairman of the [[BBC Trust]], and he took office on 1 May 2011, in the place of [[Sir Michael Lyons]] whose contract was not renewed. During this time, Patten sat as a [[crossbencher]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lord Patten of Barnes, Parliamentary career |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/1136/career |website=UK Parliament |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210052906/https://members.parliament.uk/member/1136/career |archive-date=2022-12-10}}</ref>

==== BBC royal river pageant outside broadcast ====
As Chairman of the BBC Trust, Patten joined the Prince of Wales and other members of the royal family in the royal box for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert. It came, however, immediately in the wake of widespread criticism of the BBC's live outside-broadcast coverage of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on 3 June 2012, which was castigated in the press and was the subject of 1,830 formal complaints by viewers. Patten said afterwards the Royal Pageant had not been the BBC's "finest hour" and admitted that "The tone was wrong."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9411992/Lord-Patten-Its-not-the-BBCs-job-to-be-jokey.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9411992/Lord-Patten-Its-not-the-BBCs-job-to-be-jokey.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Elizabeth |last=Grice |title=Lord Patten: 'It's not the BBC's job to be jokey' |date=19 July 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==== Resignation ====
[[File:Secretary Pompeo Meets with Sir Chris Patten, Last UK Governor of Hong Kong (50137013668).jpg|thumb|Patten ''(right)'' with U.S. Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] in July 2020]]
Patten submitted his letter of resignation as BBC Trust Chairman to the Secretary of State on 6 May 2014; citing health reasons following his heart bypass surgery on 28 April.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/news/press_releases/2014/trust_chairman.html |location=London |work=BBC Trust |title=BBC Trust Chairman Lord Patten to stand down |date=5 May 2014}}</ref> BBC Trust Vice Chairman [[Diane Coyle]] took over as Acting Chairman until the appointment of a new chairman. He returned to sit with the Conservative party in the House of Lords in September of that year.

In May 2016, Patten said that the BBC has "lost some of its ambition" in its coverage of science, philosophy and history, and should "stretch" audiences more. Patten bemoaned the fact that much of the corporation's high-brow programming had been moved to BBC Four, the digital channel, and given low budgets that meant shows were "sometimes made with glue and string". In a speech on the future of the BBC, which he said was "one of this country's greatest institutions", Patten called on ministers to respect the "besieged" broadcaster's independence, and set in place measures to stop it becoming "the plaything of the government of the day".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/03/former-bbc-chairman-lord-patten-says-corporation-should-stretch/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/03/former-bbc-chairman-lord-patten-says-corporation-should-stretch/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Former BBC chairman Lord Patten says corporation should 'stretch' audiences more|first=Patrick|last=Foster|date=3 May 2016 |newspaper=The Telegraph |access-date=13 October 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== On China ===
In September 2020, he wrote that "Chinese Communist Party general secretary [[Xi Jinping]]'s [[Xi Jinping Administration|dictatorship]] is certainly thuggish. Consider its policies in Xinjiang. Many international lawyers argue that the [[Xinjiang concentration camps|incarceration]] of over one million [[Islam in China|Muslim]] [[Uyghurs]], forced sterilisation and abortion, and slave labour meet the UN definition of [[Persecution of Uyghurs in China|genocide]]."<ref>{{cite news |title=Xi's dictatorship can't be trusted |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/xis-dictatorship-cant-be-trusted/news-story/e0a2d0ac781828fd176df611e4fafae3 |work=The Weekend Australian |date=30 September 2020}}</ref> Patten said that Chinese company [[Huawei]] "is an agent of an unpleasant Chinese state."<ref>{{cite news |title=China's 'nervous' Xi risks new Cold War, last Hong Kong governor says |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-britain-patten-inte-idUSKBN2360A8 |work=Reuters |date=30 May 2020|quote=The West, he said, should stop being naive about Xi, who has served as General Secretary of the Communist Party since 2012.}}</ref>

In May 2020, Patten said that there was a case for a multilateral mission to travel to [[Wuhan]] to investigate the origins of the [[COVID-19 outbreak]]. He argued the Chinese government had breached its obligations as a member of the [[World Health Organization]] and the 2005 [[International Health Regulations]] treaty. He also added that Britain and other countries were not against the Chinese nation or people, praising China's medical workers who first responded to the virus, but stated "It is our relationship with the dangerous and immoral Communist Party. In Wuhan the Communist party used the police to try and shut the doctors up. Totalitarian regimes always rely on secrecy and mendacity."<ref>{{cite news |title=Chris Patten urges UK to investigate origins of coronavirus in China |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/30/chris-patten-urges-uk-investigate-coronavirus-origins-china|work=The Guardian |date=30 April 2020}}</ref>

=== On Hong Kong ===
In the initial years after his tenure as Governor of Hong Kong ended Patten, by his own admission, chose not to directly comment on Hong Kong's affairs but in recent years has increasingly shared his views on Hong Kong in public talks and press interviews since the handover.<ref name="ft.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6458d53c-328c-11e4-93c6-00144feabdc0 |title=Britain is honour bound to speak up for Hong Kong |newspaper=Financial Times |date=2 September 2014 |access-date=2023-10-04}}</ref>

During an interview with ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' in 2013, he expressed the belief the [[Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region]] would inevitably give citizens a greater say in public policy. He argued "You can't just give citizens the right to decide on economic and social policies, but on the other hand, you can't allow them to decide who will clean up the garbage, how their children will be educated, and how the health care policy will be implemented" and "anyone who tries to block the development of democracy will only be spitting in the wind." He reiterated that the [[Sino-British Joint Declaration]] stipulated that Hong Kong and the United Kingdom need to maintain economic and cultural ties, emphasizing that "the United Kingdom has this interest and responsibility, and we must never forget it."<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-CJB-19523 Hong Kong Ex-Governor: To Resist Elections Is 'Spitting in The Wind'], wsj.com, 2013-11-11</ref>

On March 20, 2014, Patten gave a talk at the [[Hong Kong Maritime Museum]] co-organized by [[Oxford University]] where he expressed his views on [[Hong Kong Basic Law]] and the "one country, two systems" principle. He opined that the situation in Hong Kong was good but not perfect but believed that the British people could have done more for political reform before leaving Hong Kong. He emphasized that political and economic freedoms are closely linked, and that when one freedom is eroded, the other will be affected.<ref name="reuters.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-hongkong-patten/last-british-governor-of-hong-kong-says-confront-china-on-rights-idUKKCN0J42O520141120 |title=Last British governor of Hong Kong says confront China on rights |newspaper=Reuters |date=21 November 2014 |access-date=2023-10-04 |last1=Brunnstrom |first1=David |last2=Baldwin |first2=Clare | author2-link=Clare Baldwin}}</ref>

In July 2014, Patten criticised ''[[The Practice of the 'One Country, Two Systems' Policy in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region]]'' white paper issued by the [[People's Republic of China]] for interfering with Hong Kong's judicial independence. In an interview with the ''[[Financial Times]]'', he stated "In a system of rule of law, judges are independent and should not be questioned for instructions or forced to abandon their views on procedural fairness and what is legal due to certain political considerations." Patten also added that the Sino-British Joint Declaration signed that year was an international agreement between China and the United Kingdom, which guaranteed that Hong Kong would remain unchanged for 50 years, including the freedoms and civil liberties enjoyed by Hong Kong people. He said that if Hong Kongers believe that the Sino-British Joint Declaration has been undermined, it is completely reasonable to express concerns to China and Britain and lodge a peaceful protest.<ref name="reuters.com"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/c8a5a7c6-035d-11e4-817f-00144feab7de |title=Patten attacks China over Hong Kong judiciary remarks |newspaper=Financial Times |date=4 July 2014 |access-date=2023-10-04 |last1=Sevastopulo |first1=Demetri |last2=Stacey |first2=Kiran }}</ref>

In a 2014 article for the ''Financial Times'', Patten argued the British government should not stay silent on China interfering with Hong Kong's judiciary and politics, arguing that the UK had a moral and political responsibility to speak out on the issue of universal suffrage in Hong Kong and ensure that China fulfilled its promises in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, reiterating that the agreement was international. The Chinese government had criticized Britain in harsh terms for interfering in China's internal affairs and Hong Kong's political reform, but Patten stressed that the UK should not fear economic consequences for speaking out against China as Britain was also obligated to ensure the Joint Declaration was respected and that China itself would suffer economic repercussions if it cut ties with the West.<ref name="ft.com"/>

While commenting on the [[Umbrella Revolution]] protests in 2014, Patten called on the SAR government to conduct real consultation on political reform issues and engage in dialogue with the protestors. He also criticized the Beijing government for reneging on its promise to allow Hong Kong autonomy. Despite condemning actions undertaken by the Chinese authorities and Hong Kong police, he expressed the view that a Chinese invasion of Hong Kong and a [[Tiananmen Square]]-style crackdown would not happen because the Chinese government is concerned about its relations with other countries and its international image.<ref>{{cite news|title=彭定康促英國就港政改發聲|url=https://hk.news.yahoo.com/彭定康促英國就港政改發聲-072100704.html|newspaper=星島日報|date=2014-09-03|accessdate=2021-12-29|archive-date=2020-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804202429/https://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E5%BD%AD%E5%AE%9A%E5%BA%B7%E4%BF%83%E8%8B%B1%E5%9C%8B%E5%B0%B1%E6%B8%AF%E6%94%BF%E6%94%B9%E7%99%BC%E8%81%B2-072100704.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2014, Patten gave evidence to a hearing of the [[Foreign Affairs Select Committee]] on the implementation of the "Sino-British Joint Declaration" in Hong Kong. Patten said that the [[Hong Kong Police Force]] is one of the top police forces in the world, but they had become a basis for politics. Patten argued that Hong Kong's problem is a serious lack of leadership and the chief executive and the SAR government have the ability to pressure and convince demonstrators to negotiate, temporarily end protest, and return to school or work. Citing words by [[Joshua Wong]], Patten believed that young Hong Kong people are afraid of having their future stolen.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-16/was-hong-kong-ever-promised-democracy-fact-check/5809964 |title=Fact check: Was Hong Kong ever promised democracy? |newspaper=ABC News |date=16 December 2014 |access-date=2023-10-04}}</ref>

In June 2015, Chris Patten was interviewed by Hong Kong newspaper [[Apple Daily]]. He expressed the belief that even if a political reform plan is rejected, Hong Kong's democracy will not reach a dead end and was confident that Hong Kong will one day have democracy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20160223/19502272|title=彭定康：北京強力打壓港大學|website=Apple Daily 蘋果日報|access-date=2016-02-25|archive-date=2017-07-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706043537/http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20160223/19502272|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, Patten expressed opposition to hypothetical [[Hong Kong independence]], arguing such a move "dilutes support for democracy" and that moves towards universal suffrage in Hong Kong should not be conflated with independence.<ref name="Patten">{{cite news|title=Chris Patten warns Hong Kong pro-independence antics 'dilute support' for democracy |first=Tony |last=Cheung |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2049247/chris-patten-slams-disqualified-localist-duo-saying-hong |date=25 November 2016|newspaper=South China Morning Post}}</ref>

Patten undertook a tour of Hong Kong in November 2016 where gave a public lecture at the [[Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong|Foreign Correspondents' Club]] and later spoke at a student forum organised by the [[University of Hong Kong]]. He emphasized that the cornerstone of Hong Kong's success lies in the rule of law, which is guaranteed by the Sino-British Joint Declaration. He also addressed the [[Causeway Bay Books disappearances]], saying he was saddened such an incident had happened in Hong Kong and asked why the international community paid so little attention. He did not directly comment on the performance of Chief Executive [[Leung Chun-ying]], but argued Hong Kong's Chief Executive should face Beijing on behalf of Hong Kong people, not Hong Kong people on behalf of Beijing.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/25/chris-patten-hits-out-at-hong-kong-democracy-activists |title=Hong Kong independence activists hit back after Chris Patten's criticism |newspaper=The Guardian |date=25 November 2016 |access-date=2023-10-04 |last1=Haas |first1=Benjamin }}</ref>

In a 2017 interview with BBC's ''[[Newsnight]]'' Patten expressed regret that many Hong Kong people do not feel that Britain has ever truly stood up for its commitments and responsibilities but also criticised the idea that Britain was "kowtowing to China" politically for the sake of trade. He argued that during the last ten to fifteen years of British rule in Hong Kong, more democracy should have been promoted and that if Hong Kong had more years of democratic experience, it would be more difficult for the Chinese government to reverse Hong Kong's democratic process and all Hong Kongers would have openly noticed any [[democratic backsliding]].<ref name="k9AcGE_rSjQ">{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9AcGE_rSjQ |title=存档副本 |website=[[YouTube]] |date=6 June 2019 |accessdate=2019-06-08 |archive-date=2019-08-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818214229/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9AcGE_rSjQ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2020, he criticised the new [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|Hong Kong national security law]] as an "outrageous act"  and accused the [[Chinese Communist Party]] of seeking to "destroy" Hong Kong. He also said the British government should not see trade as a reason to avoid condemning the law and demand that China respect its end of the Joint Declaration, stating "we keep on kidding ourselves that unless we do everything that China wants we will somehow miss out on great trading opportunities. It's drivel."<ref name="theguardian.com"/>

In a July 2020 interview with [[CNBC]], he referred to Hong Kong Chief Executive [[Carrie Lam]] as a "lamentable and [[quisling]] figure in Hong Kong history" for her handling of the political crisis in Hong Kong which led to the national security law, which Patten argued undermined Hong Kong's independence judiciary and political freedoms.<ref>{{cite news|author=Coconuts Hong Kong|title=Carrie Lam is a 'lamentable' figure in Hong Kong history, ex-colonial governor Chris Patten says|date=2020-07-09|work=Coconuts Hong Kong|url=https://coconuts.co/hongkong/news/carrie-lam-is-a-lamentable-figure-in-hong-kong-history-ex-colonial-governor-chris-patten-says/|access-date=2020-07-15|archive-date=2020-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715115110/https://coconuts.co/hongkong/news/carrie-lam-is-a-lamentable-figure-in-hong-kong-history-ex-colonial-governor-chris-patten-says/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a 2022 interview with London-based Hong Kong [[YouTube]] channel ''Green Bean Media'' Patten expressed that he was angry and sad about the current situation in Hong Kong. He said "Hong Kong should have been an extraordinary place, but we saw it destroyed by a brutal ideology and a group of traitors" and described the situation as "very frustrating." He also praised Hong Kong citizens who immigrated to the UK for their contributions to British life.<ref>{{YouTube|id=?v=MoA8iMymy8c|title=#記香港人｜彭定康專訪｜對香港發展感憤怒和痛心｜難回答香港留學生應否返香港｜BNO計劃香港移民將令英國得益｜他們與香港的距離}}</ref>

In March 2023, Patten was one of 47 British lawmakers to sign an open letter urging the Hong Kong authorities to release [[Claudia Mo]] on humanitarian grounds to visit her critically ill husband in hospital.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-64807507 |title=Hong Kong 47: UK MPs call for release of ex-lawmaker Claudia Mo |date=3 March 2023 |access-date=2023-10-03}}</ref>

=== On Northern Ireland===
Patten contributed to post-conflict reform in [[Northern Ireland]], most notably as the architect of the ''Patten Report'' which laid the foundation for modernising the region's policing service following the [[Good Friday Agreement]]. Appointed to lead the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland in 1998, Patten oversaw a comprehensive review that culminated in recommendations for the creation of the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] to replace the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]]. Patten stated: "The report took about a year or a year and a half but it's the bit of work I'm proudest of. I loved the job in Northern Ireland. I loved being a European Commissioner — but the job of which I'm proudest is Northern Ireland. In a way that some people would think was a bit self-regarding, I sort of think of it as part of my genuflection to my past".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Media |first1=Salthill |title=The Ireland Podcast - Episode 177. Lord Chris Patten: The Patten Report |url=https://www.theirelandpodcast.com/latest-podcast/episode/9cea2b64/177-lord-chris-patten-the-patten-report |website=The Ireland Podcast |access-date=26 June 2025}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Patten married [[Lavender Thornton]], a [[barrister]], on 11 September 1971.<ref>[http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/oxford_people/key_university_officers/chancellor.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504043351/http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/oxford_people/key_university_officers/chancellor.html|date=4 May 2008}}</ref> They have three daughters, including the actress [[Alice Patten]].

On 29 September 2005, he published his memoirs, ''[[Chris Patten, Not Quite the Diplomat|Not Quite the Diplomat: Home Truths About World Affairs]]''. In October 2009, Patten was Chief Guest at [[The Doon School]], a boarding school in [[Dehradun]], India, which is a member of the United Kingdom's Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doonschool.com/images/weekly_pdf/founders2009.pdf|title=The Doon School Weekly |date=10 October 2009 |publisher=Doonschool.com |access-date=2015-03-17 }} {{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

Patten is a [[Catholic]] and oversaw [[Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United Kingdom]] in September 2010. In 2010, ''[[The Tablet]]'' named him as one of Britain's most influential Catholics.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Tablet's Top 100|url=http://www.thetablet.co.uk/pdf/4283/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313083725/http://www.thetablet.co.uk/pdf/4283|archive-date=13 March 2016}}</ref>

In February 2010, Patten was appointed President of [[Medical Aid for Palestinians]], but he stepped down in June 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.map-uk.org/regions/uk/news/view/-/id/990/ |title=Lord Patten steps down as MAP President |publisher=Map-uk.org |access-date=22 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130527071350/http://www.map-uk.org/regions/uk/news/view/-/id/990/ |archive-date=27 May 2013}}</ref>

In 2014 Pope Francis appointed Patten to head a body to advise the Vatican on media strategy and on how to handle the press, which he remained on until 2016.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

== In the media ==
Patten was interviewed about the rise of [[Thatcherism]] for the 2006 [[BBC]] TV documentary series ''[[Tory! Tory! Tory!]]''

Patten and his time in Hong Kong was the subject of the 5-part documentary series ''The Last Governor'', which was filmed throughout his time in Hong Kong, including his arrival, key moments of his government such as the 1995 elections and his final day in office, ending as he departs Government House for the last time.

The 1996 Hong Kong parody film ''Bodyguards of the Last Governor'', presents 'Christ Pattern' as the Governor of Hong Kong. In addition to the name, Pattern appears to be based heavily on Patten, matching his appearance, political affiliation (Conservative) and family (a wife and two daughters with him in Hong Kong). His role however is minor as the film depicts him being replaced with one month to go before the handover. He is portrayed by Noel Lester Rands.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Charles|first=John|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nLnwCQAAQBAJ&dq=Noel%2520Lester%2520Rands&pg=PA35|title=The Hong Kong Filmography, 1977–1997: A Reference Guide to 1,100 Films Produced by British Hong Kong Studios|date=2015-06-14|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-0262-2|language=en}}</ref>

Patten is portrayed the video game [[Hong Kong 97 (video game)|''Hong Kong 97'']] as ordering Chin, an unspecified relative of Bruce Lee, to massacre the entire population of mainland China.

== Honours ==
{{Infobox viceroy styles
| image = [[File:Flag of the Governor of Hong Kong (1959-1997).svg|150px]]
| name = Christopher Patten<br />(1992–1997)
| dipstyle = [[His Excellency]] the Right Honourable
| offstyle = Your Excellency
}}
[[File:Coat of Arms of Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, KG, CH, PC.svg|left|thumb|Arms as displayed at [[St George's Chapel, Windsor]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Beckford |first=Martin |date=14 January 2024 |title=The Second Sunday of Epiphany |work=The Dragon: St George's Community News <!--  |access-date=14 January 2024-->}}</ref>]]
In the [[1998 New Year Honours]], Patten was appointed a [[member of the Order of the Companions of Honour]] (CH).<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=54993 |date=31 December 1997 |page=26 |supp=y}}</ref> Patten was appointed [[Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter]] (KG) in April 2023 by [[King Charles III]].<ref>{{London Gazette |date=2 May 2023 |issue=64041 |page=8746}}</ref><ref name="garter23">{{cite web |title=New appointments to the Order of the Garter |url=https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2023-04-23/new-appointments-to-the-order-of-the-garter |website=[[British royal family|Royal.uk]] |access-date=23 April 2023 |date=23 April 2023}}</ref>

In November 2016 Patten was made a [[Commander of the Legion of Honour]], and was presented with the insignia by [[Sylvie Bermann]], the [[French ambassador to the United Kingdom]], at [[Kensington Palace Gardens]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Lord-Patten-becomes-Commandeur-in-Ordre-de-la-Legion-d-honneur |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20180819210609/https://uk.ambafrance.org/Lord-Patten-becomes-Commandeur-in-Ordre-de-la-Legion-d-honneur |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 August 2018 |title=Lord Patten becomes Commandeur in Ordre de la Légion d'honneur |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=3 November 2016 |website=[[Embassy of France, London]] |access-date=23 December 2016 }}</ref>

==Awards==
In 2003 Patten was awarded an honorary [[Doctor of Laws|LL.D.]] degree from the [[University of Bath]]. In September 2005 he was elected a Distinguished Honorary Fellow of [[Massey College]] in the [[University of Toronto]] (the only person so elected except for the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, the [[University of Edinburgh]], and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]]) as well as receiving an honorary [[Doctor of Sacred Letters|D.S.Litt.]] degree from the [[University of Trinity College]], Toronto and an honorary [[D.Litt.]] degree from the [[University of Ulster]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2005/1549.html |title=University of Ulster News Release – UU Unveils Summer Honorary Graduates |publisher=News.ulster.ac.uk |date=28 February 2005 |access-date=30 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193608/http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2005/1549.html |archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> In March 2009, Patten received the title [[Doctor honoris causa]] by [[South East European University]].

==Bibliography==
{{Incomplete list|date=August 2020}}

=== Books ===
* {{cite book |author=Patten, Chris | year = 1983 | title = The Tory Case | publisher=Longman Higher Education | isbn = 0-582-29612-9}}
* {{cite book |author=Patten, Chris |author-mask=1 |title=Letters to Hong Kong |location=Hong Kong |publisher=Information Services Department |year=1997}}
* {{cite book |author=Patten, Chris |author-mask=1 | year = 1998 | title = [[East and West (book)|East and West: The Last Governor of Hong Kong on Power, Freedom and the Future]] | publisher=Macmillan | isbn = 978-0-3337-4787-2}}
* {{cite book |author=Patten, Chris |author-mask=1 | year = 2005 | title = [[Not Quite the Diplomat]]: Home Truths About World Affairs | publisher=Allen Lane | isbn = 0-7139-9855-5}}
* {{cite book |author=Patten, Chris |author-mask=1 | year = 2006 | title = Cousins and Strangers: America, Britain, and Europe in a New Century | publisher = Times Books | isbn = 0-8050-7788-X |url=https://archive.org/details/cousinsstrangers00chri }}
* {{cite book |author=Patten, Chris |author-mask=1 |title=What Next? Surviving the Twenty-First Century |year=2008 |publisher=Allen Lane <!--|isbn=978-0-7139-9856-6-->}}
* {{cite book |author=Patten, Chris |author-mask=1 | year = 2017 | title = First Confession: A Sort of Memoir | publisher=Allen Lane | isbn = 978-0-241-27559-7}}
* {{cite book |author=Patten, Chris |author-mask=1 | year = 2022 | title = The Hong Kong Diaries | publisher=Allen Lane | isbn = 978-0-241-56049-5}}

===Critical studies and reviews of Patten's work===
;''What next?''
* {{cite journal |author=Sumption, Jonathan |date=4 October 2008 |title=The pragmatic approach |journal=The Spectator |volume=308 |issue=9397 |page=38 |url=http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/books/2188496/the-pragmatic-approach.thtml |access-date=23 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112110633/http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/books/2188496/the-pragmatic-approach.thtml |archive-date=12 January 2009}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book |author = Jonathan Dimbleby |year = 1997 |title = The Last Governor |publisher = Little, Brown |isbn = 0-316-18583-3}}
* {{cite book |author = Chris Patten |year = 2005 |title = Not Quite the Diplomat: Home Truths About World Affairs |publisher=Allen Lane |isbn = 0-7139-9855-5}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|s=Author:Christopher Patten|q=Chris Patten|c=Category:Chris Patten|d=Q23368|wikt=no|n=no|b=no|v=no}}
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-chris-patten | Chris Patten }}
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3965499.stm Chris Patten's profile on BBC News website]
* [http://www.project-syndicate.org/series/history_in_motion/description "History in Motion"] Chris Patten's monthly op-ed commentary series for [[Project Syndicate]].
* [http://ec.europa.eu/archives/commission_1999_2004/patten/index.htm European Commissioner]
* {{C-SPAN|26258}}
* [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/mar/11/uk.bbc Still looking for trouble at (nearly) 60] – [[Jackie Ashley]] talks to Chris Patten
* [http://justbiswadip.blogspot.com/2009/03/his-thought-patterns.html His thought patterns (Biswadip Mitra talks to Chris Patten)]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1246_the_forum/page16.shtml Audio: Chris Patten in conversation on the BBC World Service discussion show] [[The Forum (BBC World Service)|''The Forum'']]
* [https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/brexit-ideological-crap-about-sovereignty-and-taking-back-control-1.3162551https:Chris Patten, who helped transform the RUC into the PSNI, on his Irishness, Catholicism and the wrench of Brexit]{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://digital.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/corpus/ Corpus of Political Speeches] Free access to political speeches by Chris Patten and other politicians, developed by Hong Kong Baptist University Library

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