GOVERNOR Chris Patten left Hong Kong last night for his fifth visit to the United Kingdom this year, and has now flown more than 100,000 kilometres in 1994.
By the end of the year he looks set to have spent nearly 100 days out of the territory, including more than five weeks' holiday.
He has already flown to London so many times since January that when he lands back at Kai Tak next week he would qualify for a free ticket with British Airways' frequent flier programme - if he were a member.
Mr Patten last night looked every inch the accomplished traveller in a comfortable turtle neck shirt and casual coat.
On most occasions he is given an official send-off which requires the usual suit, blue shirt and red tie but he invariably makes a quick change to a tracksuit when the BA jumbo lifts off.
'He'll read the briefs, and then he gets off to sleep. He generally manages to sleep naturally for most of the journey,' one official said.
