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.