FORMER Governor Lord MacLehose said it would be better to end the current Sino-British row over Mr Chris Patten's political reform as soon as possible.
In an interview with the Straits Times, Lord MacLehose said: ''The sooner this business of the elections for 1995 can be got out of the way the better.
''What really matters in Hongkong is the economy.'' It was risky for Mr Patten to play games with China, he said.
''The two governments are partners in one of the most tricky and unique political operations. Close partnership is absolutely essential if it's going to come off,'' he said.
Lord MacLehose also believed that the emergence of the United Democrats of Hongkong, which was seen as an anti-Beijing party in Hongkong, had added to Chinese suspicions of the electoral procedures and British policy.
Lord MacLehose believed criticism was directed at Mr Patten personally, not at the British Government.