Patten denies he is lame duck

HONG KONG - The 28th and last British governor of Hong Kong took aim at those who dismissed him as a lame duck, insisting yesterday…

HONG KONG - The 28th and last British governor of Hong Kong took aim at those who dismissed him as a lame duck, insisting yesterday he had his work cut out in the 296 remaining days of colonial rule.

The outgoing government has to protect the economy, see off "doomsters and any speculative sharks", and complete the task of bringing Hong Kong's laws in line with international covenants and the Bill of Rights, Mr Chris Patten said.