Lavender keeps up vigil at bedside

THE Governor's wife, Mrs Lavender Patten, spent most of yesterday at her husband's bedside while he was undergoing treatment for his heart disorder.

The Pattens' two oldest daughters Kate, 19, and Laura, 18, both in the UK kept in contact with their mother to check on their father's condition, while the youngest daughter Alice, 12, attended school as usual.

Yesterday evening Mrs Patten stood in for her husband to officiate at the opening of an exhibition at the Hongkong Museum of Art which the Governor had been forced to withdraw from after he was told he had to go into hospital.

Speaking after opening the exhibition, Mrs Patten said she had spoken to her daughters and they were very pleased the operation went well.

''It all went well this morning. He is recovering. We are okay,'' she said.

But she said it was too early to say how she might help the Governor change his lifestyle after he is discharged from hospital.

''We'll think about it later,'' was all she would say.

A Government spokesman said it was not clear where the Governor would spend his convalescence period although it was possible he might choose to spend some extra time at his weekend retreat, Fanling Lodge.

Meanwhile it emerged yesterday that a geomancer had warned the Governor last October that he might undergo a ''minor medical operation'' because of the bad fung shui at Government House.

Mr Siu Chun-shing, commissioned by the Hongkong Daily News for a special report, predicted last year that something ''mentally or physically'' would trouble Mr Patten.