The search for a historical souvenir rather than concern over the future led commuters to scramble for copies of the policy speech last night.
A handful of people waited for copies to be distributed in Central MTR station before the Governor had finished speaking.
Surveyor Cheng Tung-leung, 46, grabbed a copy as soon as government staff began distributing them at 4 pm.
'I have no real expectations of what it will contain but I just want to have a look as it's going to be the last speech under British rule,' he said.
'The Governor can't really do very much as there are only 272 days left before the handover.' Mr Cheng said Mr Patten's priority should be to find a way of working with the future rulers of Hong Kong. 'For the sake of Hong Kong people, he should co-operate with China,' he said.
Housewife Ho Kwai-fong, 38, said she hoped the speech would focus on the needs of the elderly.