In 1989, he was promoted to the 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. They are a lovely family,' one of their neighbours told the Mail this week. 'They do a lot with the children.' I am immensely excited by the prospect. It would be a difficult job, but I think it is important to show the world that we can handle this last imperial responsibility in a decent way and which doesn’t betray the people of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong 47: UK MPs call for release of ex-lawmaker Claudia Mo". 3 March 2023 . Retrieved 3 October 2023. In September 2020, he wrote that "Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping's dictatorship is certainly thuggish. Consider its policies in Xinjiang. Many international lawyers argue that the incarceration of over one million Muslim Uighurs, forced sterilisation and abortion, and slave labour meet the UN definition of genocide." [34] Patten said that Chinese company Huawei "is an agent of an unpleasant Chinese state." [35] Sussex cheerleader' Omid Scobie claims Queen Camilla personally thanked Piers Morgan for 'defending the Firm' from Meghan Markle Lord Patten was appointed Governor of Hong Kong in April 1992, a position he held until 1997, overseeing the return of Hong Kong to China. He was Chairman of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland set up under the Good Friday Peace Agreement, which reported in 1999. From 1999 to 2004 he was European Commissioner for External Relations, and in January 2005 he took his seat in the House of Lords. In 2006 he was appointed Co-Chair of the UK-India Round Table. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, and Honorary Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford. He was appointed Chancellor of Newcastle University in 1999, and elected Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 2003.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" (Chinese: 千古罪人) by Lu Ping, the head of China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. [21] 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. Their marriage has lasted 21 years, they are raising three children — Elodie, 17, Willow 15 and 12-year-old Noah — and latterly appear to have settled into a life that can only be described as resolutely and comfortably middle-class. I’ve got increasingly cross about references to Chinese ‘face’ (by the older group in particular) and feel that we need to refer ourselves to British ‘face’ from time to time.” (p.17) He then received a call from St Amie around 15 minutes after the shooting — he said he 'couldn't remember' what they talked about.

Her first major role after graduation was Eugenie in Vincent in Brixton in the West End in 2002. [4] Amanda Holden and Ashley Roberts put on vibrant displays in bright outfits as they refuse to let the rain dampen their spirits while leaving Heart FM Of course, both sides did not want to see the negotiation fail. Lu said that Patten’s insistence upon defending the principle of Chinese sovereignty on Hong Kong harmed the relationship between China and the UK. Lu planned to give Patten a gift (perhaps an agreement on the airport) but due to Patten’s tough attitude, Patten would not receive anything then. In Chinese culture, reciprocity is a virtue. If Patten gave way in the negotiation, British would also get what they wanted in return. However, Lu’s expectation was turned down. Finally, Lu warned Patten not to announce anything at all unless the agreement was first cleared from the Chinese side.Strictly Come Dancing's Ellie Leach andVito Coppola FURTHER fuel romance rumours as she drops hint with comment about her family

Tommy Fury's face is playfully squeezed by a female reveller as he parties with Chris Brown - after fiancée Molly-Mae Hague is seen without her ring 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] In the media [ edit ] Behind the veneer of privilege, however, Laura had the makings of someone who forges her own path. Aged just 11 she refused to attend the exclusive Godolphin and Latymer school where her sisters were educated to attend a London comprehensive, and when her father, to whom friends say she is devoted, was defeated as MP in his Bath constituency in 1992, she was so furious that he had not been allowed to give a farewell speech that she took it upon herself to galvanise his team to sing 'For he's a jolly good fellow' in front of the Press as a show of defiance.Al Pacino's girlfriend Noor Alfallah makes pitstop for coffee while out with her mother in LA... nearly six months after arrival of baby Roman

Patten was Chancellor of Newcastle University from 1999 to 2009. In 2003, he was elected Chancellor of the University of Oxford.Kim Kardashian shows off her Christmas decorations with the tree-lined driveway of her minimalist mansion lit up with thousands of lights In February 2010, Patten was appointed President of Medical Aid for Palestinians, but he stepped down in June 2011. [53]