19 MARCH 2005, Page 18

Shame on Patten

From Andrew Gilligan

Sir: Shame on Chris Patten for misrepresenting my report of what he said in order to deny it (Letters, 12 March). What I actually wrote was: ‘There was a need, he [Patten] said, to satisfy China’s “amourpropre”. Beijing, he said, was “humiliated” by being bracketed with the likes of Sudan and Burma.’ This was an entirely accurate report of Chris Patten’s words.

Andrew Gilligan London SE10