WANG ''There is no need to rush.'' - Wang Qiren, deputy director of China's Hongkong and Macau Affairs Office, advising Hongkongers to be less anxious about talks between China and Britain over the territory's political development. PATTEN ''I guess if we could put things off indefinitely, we would, but that is not an available option.'' - The Governor, Chris Patten. LEE ''The Government has made a very clever choice.' - Allen Lee, commenting on the decision not , after all to gazette the reform bill this week in the hope that talks can start. MAJOR 'I got no sense of a protectionist President.' - British Prime Minister John Major after talks with Bill Clinton in which Hongkong's fears over any threat to China's Most Favoured Nation trading status were raised. CONS 'After 38 years {of service in Hong Kong}, I deserve it.' - Retiring appeal court judge Sir Derek Cons, staking his claim to a passage home on the Canberra. KWAN 'We do not have a shortage of cabing attendants at the moment' - Cathay spokesman Kwan Chuk-fai, commenting on the airline's recruitment drive for 680 new cabin crew. SOLDIER 'There are an awful lot of people walking around the Prince of Wales Building wondering how long they have got there.' - British officer serving in Hongkong discussing thenews that hundreds of his colleagues may be axed in a new round of armed forces cuts. By the end of the week, 43 had received notice. WONG ''Our tradition has forced many women to be in a sad plight. It isvery sad that such tradition does still exist in some villages in today's Hongkong where everybody is talking about freedom and democracy.'' - Wong Tang Lai-kwan of Shui Tun, Hongkong's only female village head.
TANG ''I don't know if I can win, but I must give it a try.'' - Tang Mui, who is mounting a legal challenge against New Territories tradition that only men can inherit land there. She claims she is entitled to 20,000-square-feet near Fanling. US OFFICER ''Ten thousand feet? Two miles up? They'll be lucky if they hit Yugoslavia.'' - Retired American military man's reaction to plans to airdrop food and medicine to Bosnians.
CHAN ''We are not superstitious, but living next to a place for the dead may have a bad psychological effect on us.'' - Tin Shui Wai resident Chan Kung-wei who, like his neighbours, does not want a funeral parlour built adjacent to his home. SISTER BATISTINA ''Of course, we have had mail. I last received a letter from Italy in 1951; it had been posted three years before.'' - One of four Italian nuns in their 80s who have lived in Burma's remote Shan state since the 30s.
