Hong Kong handover: Patten turned down UN post in Bosnia

Wednesday 25 June 1997 23:02 BST
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The outgoing Governor of Hong Kong insists that he has no plans for his next job but disclosed that he was sounded out to succeed Carl Bildt as the United Nations envoy in Bosnia. He says he turned down the offer because he needed a break, writes Stephen Vines.

In an interview with The Independent, Chris Patten said: "I thought about it. What put me off was not Bosnia, what put me off was I genuinely wanted to have a pause in my life."

Mr Patten said that the approach came from Mr Bildt.

When he leaves Hong Kong, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, he will sail on HMS Britannia with Prince Charles to Manila then take a holiday in the United States, before settling down in France to write a book about Asia, and tend his garden.

"I need that period. I'm in my early fifties, I've done a series of quite tough jobs. I need a period to decide what baggage to throw overboard and what new baggage I want to acquire and what I mean to do next."

Although many of his Conservative colleagues are keen for Mr Patten to return to parliament, he is undecided. "I don't know whether I want to be involved in politics," he said. "Of course, I'm going to keep an eye open on what is happening in Britain and Europe and of course, I intend in due course, to speak about issues I care about."

Mr Patten clearly indicated that he wished to remain in public service. His friends say he is keen to find an international post but, he says, despite the belief that he can slip into a plum international job "there are hardly any" to be had. The Blair government is far less likely to nominate him for one than the outgoing administration.

Fortunately for Mr Patten, he will not have any immediate problems. As outgoing Governor he will receive a severance payment of almost pounds 300,000.

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