The Rt Hon The Lord Patten of Barnes, CH, PC. Commonly known as Chris Patten, born in Cleveleys, Lancashire, England on 12 May 1944. is a British Politician, Conservative Life peer, who has sat under the title in the Lords since 2005. He was educated at St Benedict’s School, Ealing and Balliol College, Oxford. He won a Coolidge Travelling Scholarship to the USA in 1965.
Chairman of Conservative Party from 1990 – 1992. And the 28th, the last Governor of Hong Kong from 1992 – 1997. He was given an Official Chinese name, Pang Ding-hong (Chinese : 彭定康), the name based on the words meaning “stability” and “calm, joyous, healthy“. He was a former European Commissioner of United Kingdom for external affairs from 1999 – 2004. He has been the Chancellor of University of Oxford since 2003.
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- Political Career
- House of Lords, United Kingdom : 2005 - Current
- Governor of Hong Kong : 1992-1997
- Member of Parliament (UK), Bath : 1979–1992
- Post-Governorship
- 2003 - Current : Chancellor of the University of Oxford
- 2011 - 2014 : Chairman of the BBC Trust
- 1999 - 2009 : Chancellor of Newcastle University
- 1999 - 2004 : European Commissioner of United Kingdom
- 1998 - 1999 : Independent Commission on Policing, Northern Ireland
- Honours
- Publications
- Other Publications Relating to Patten
- Personal Life
Political Career
House of Lords, United Kingdom : 2005 – Current
Lord Patten of Barnes is a Life peer, Conservative member who has set under the title in the House of Lords, United Kingdom since 19 January 2005. His full title is The Rt Hon The Lord Patten of Barnes, CH, PC.
Governor of Hong Kong : 1992 – 1997
Within the last five years of British rule as a Governor, leading up to the handover of Hong Kong, Patten encouraged the expansion of Hong Kong’s social welfare systems, striving to reconcile the basic rights and freedom, and given Hong Kong the own political culture with which to endure in the process over 6 million people, with the unpredictable movements of Beijing.
He left the city with Prince Charles, on HMY Britannia (British Royal Yacht) after the handover of Hong Kong ceremony. Patten was noted in tears throughout the day, after his last speech at HMS Tamar (Base of British Royal Navy in Hong Kong from 1897 to 1997). He has commented that, his governorship of Hong Kong, was a happy time for him personally.
Member of Parliament (UK), Bath : 1979–1992
Patten joined the Conservative Research Department in 1966. He was seconded to the Cabinet Office in 1970, was a personal assistant, political secretary to Lord Carrington and Lord Whitelaw, when they were Chairmen of the Conservative Party from 1972-1974.
He was appointed and became the youngest Director of the Conservative Research Department in 1974 until 1979.
He was elected as the Member of Parliament, House of Common for Bath in 1979, and served until 1992.
Post-Governorship
2003 – Current : Chancellor of the University of Oxford
Patten was elected Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 2003 and in position currently.
2011 – 2014 : Chairman of the BBC Trust
Patten was advised by coalition government of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat, which was led by former Prime Minister David Cameron. Patten was appointed as Chairman of the BBC Trust, he took on his place on 1 May 2011, replace of Sir Michael Lyons.
Patten resigned as BBC Trust Chairman to the Secretary of State in 2014 due to the health reasons, according to his heart bypass surgery was held in the same year.
1999 – 2009 : Chancellor of Newcastle University
Patten was elected Chancellor of Newcastle University in 1999 until 2009.
1999 – 2004 : European Commissioner of United Kingdom
Patten was appointed to the European Commission as Commissioner for External Relations, one of two members of UK. He was responsible for co-operation programmes and EU’s development. He held the position from 2000 until 2004.
1998 – 1999 : Independent Commission on Policing, Northern Ireland
Patten was held the position of Independent Commission of Policing for Northern Ireland from 1998 until 1999. Commonly known as Patten Commission at that time, as it is part of the Belfast Agreement, and established in 1998.
The Patten Commission produced the full policing report, entitled A New Beginning: Policing in Northern Ireland in 1999, commonly known as the Patten Report, contained 133 pages and practical recommendations.
This report led to the renaming of the Royal Ulster Constabulary as the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Honours
Life Peer
Order of the Companion of Honour (CH)
Commander of the Legion of Honour
Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem
University of Bath : Hon. Doctor of Laws
Massey College, University of Toronto : Hon. Fellow
University of Trinity College, Toronto : Hon. Doctor of Sacred Letters
University of Ulster : Hon. Doctor of Letters
South East European University : Doctor Honoris Causa
Other Publications Relating to Patten
2018 – The Last Governor : Chris Patten and the Handover of Hong Kong, by Dimbleby Jonathan
Personal Life
Lord Patten married Lavender Thornton on September 1971. Lavender is a barrister. They have three daughters, Kate (1973), Laura (1974) and Alice (1979).
He is a Roman Catholic.
The Tablet (International Catholic reviews weekly publication in London) named him one of Britain’s most influential Roman Catholics in 2010.
His interests are gardening and tennis.
He is a big fan of Hong Kong style egg tart, as a famously fan of it.
Photo : Epoch Times
Source : Wikipedia, University of Oxford, Patten Report, Epoch Times, Book of The Last Governor : Chris Patten and the Handover of Hong Kong
This is a really interesting article, it is very thoughtful of you to share about who is Chris Patten even though this is the first time I’m reading about him. I noticed that he is really a great man and he has done a lot of prestigious things and acquired a lot of medals, he must definitely be a good man. Thanks for sharing
Hello Bruce, thank you for your comment. Lord Patten has done a lot of things like you said, and because of his faith, how he loves Hong Kong as his second home, that’s why we built up this website, and spread to the world. Let us know if you have any ideas about our website.
This is really informative. Lord Patten has a CV bedecked with achievement. A Catholic with Irish antecedents from the northwest of England,
he won a scholarship to Oxford, became a Tory MP, then chairman of the
party, and engineered John Major’s unlikely victory in 1992, in an
election where he lost his own seat.
thank you for creating this article.
Hello Lucas, thank you for your comment. Because of Lord Patten’s faith, and that’s why we build up this website, to continue spread up his faith. Let us know if you have any ideas about Lord Patten, UK, Hong Kong, and human rights.
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Md. Asraful Islam, thank you for your comment. Because we believe the faith of Lord Patten of Barnes, so that we decided to introduce him into our website, and that’s why and how our website comes. Let us know if you have any ideas about Lord Patten of Barnes, UK, Hong Kong, or human rights in future. You are always welcome to drop by and leave us comments.
Wow! Such a very important figure he is and I must say that this is really great. see. Honestly speaking, I value everything you have shared here about him. Chris patten is definitely Seine who has seen it all and has maneuvered through it all to be standing tall and be filled with so much Kore experience at ruling the nation
Hello Kimberly, thank you for your comment. Lord Patten of Barnes is a great leader and he was the last governor of Hong Kong. Because of his passionate for Hong Kong, and helped Hong Kong people to creat the core values of Hong Kong, that’s why Hong Kong people still miss him somehow. And those are reasons why we created No.1 Chris Patten, to share truth of core values of Hong Kong never die. Don’t forget to let us know if you have any ideas about Chris Patten, Hong Kong, and UK.
Cheers and stay safe.
What a very intriguing article about Chris Patton, Truly, i have not heard of him before. Even though Hong Kong has been in the news countless of times these days, including discussing it’s handover, i don’t believe that the media has mentioned Chris Patton even once, such a shame or maybe i haven’t paid enough attention to the details…
In any case, thanks for sharing the information, i learned something new and useful today because of you, keep up the good work!
Mark.
Hello Mark, thank you for your comment. Lord Patten of Barnes is one of most important person for Hong Kong, from the posts and news we shared out, he still loves Hong Kong. We believe that not too much medias talked about him, and how he was good for Hong Kong also. That’s why we would like to share and talk about this message to public. Don’t forget to let us know any ideas about Lord Patten of Barnes, Uk, Hong Kong, etc.
Cheers and stay safe.
Very interesting post on Chris Patten. I must say I live in the UK but I am not very familiar with this name, lol. Maybe because I’m not in the politics much. This is definitely an amazing read and I’ve learnt so much about Chris Patten. Thank you for writing this detailed post.
All the very best to you.
Hello Habib, thank you for your comment. Lord Patten of Barnes is famous for the last Governor of Hong Kong, I think it’s not surprising if you are not familiar with his name.
Also, our website contains his name, and it’s because of his attitude and how he do, analysis things. Even he left Hong Kong for long time, but still his passion of Hong Kong is never ending. I can give you an example.
Once we watched the online conference live which hosted by him and Hong Kong’s Foreign Press. I can tell how he wanted to cry serval times on his face, when talked about how’s the freedom of Hong Kong.
Let us know if you have any ideas to share about our website.
Ling
No.1 Chris Patten