Patten Profits From Hk Handover By More Than $500,000

The departed British governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten is to profit from the former colonys handover to China by more than $ 500,000 , the Times newspaper reported yesterday.

The paper said Patten bade farewell to Hong Kong with a tear in his eye and a 250,000 ($400,000 ) tax free pay-off to soften the blow of his departure.

The bonus was paid by the HongKong government in a lump sum, and was equivalent to 25 percent of the salary he received in five years as governor, the times reported.

Elsewhere the Times said that with his suit still dripping from the handover monsoon, Pattens literary agent had Tuesday also clinched deal for more than 100,000 ($160,000 ) for the ex-governor to write a book on the Far East.

 

It will be less a memoir than a political perspective on the area and its relations with the west, the times said, quoting agent michael sisson.

The times commented that the money, particularly the pay-off, would help patten buy his new 500,000 pound (800,000 dollar) home in south london. Afp ahn 07020803 d