Zhou Nan was wrong to refuse handshake with Chris Patten

I REFER to the report headlined, ''Greeting leaves Patten shaken'', which was published in the South China Morning Post, on December 29.

I refer to the ''impolite behaviour'' of Mr Zhou Nan.

As someone who is Chinese, I feel ashamed that Mr Zhou Nan should have refused to shake hands with Governor Chris Patten.

Even if a difference of opinion exists between China and Britain in negotiations over Hong Kong's future, that is no excuse for Zhou Nan to refuse the normal form of handshake.

His only excuse might be that he is under instructions from the Chinese central Government.

Finally, the Post referred to Mr Zhou Nan as ''politely'' offering ''a Buddhist greeting''.