Newspaper editorials joined the pro-Beijing press in attacking Mr Patten's speech as sowing the seeds of suspicion in the community.
One of the most ferocious criticisms came from the top-selling Oriental Daily News. It said the 16 benchmarks spelled out by Mr Patten to help the world to judge post-handover Hong Kong were 'extremely prejudicial and based on subjective speculation'.
The criticism was echoed by the pro-Beijing Ta Kung Pao, which said it was unnecessary for Mr Patten to advise the first chief executive.
The Governor was 'trying to coerce the chief executive [designate] into distancing himself from the Chinese central Government and to turn Hong Kong into an independent or semi-independent political entity'.
Another pro-China daily, Wen Wei Po, said Mr Patten was 'trying to stir up public opinion' in a move to 'create obstacles to a smooth transition'.
Ming Pao said while Britain had often emphasised its moral obligation towards Hong Kong, it had been miserly in giving any real benefit to the people of Hong Kong.