Patten said

PATTEN ''If there is any misunderstanding - a gulf - I think it is whether or not the Chinese leaders understand the relationship between Hongkong's way of life, Hongkong's freedoms and Hongkong's prosperity.'' - Chris Patten, talking to Sir David Frost of the BBC in London. ZHANG ''The ball is in the British court.'' - Zhang Junsheng, vice-director of the local branch of the New China News Agency. MACLEOD ''I don't think there is any question of us funding the whole airport and railway directly.'' - Financial Secretary Hamish Macleod countering suggestions that disagreements with China over financing would lead the Government to fund major infrastructure projects itself.

TAO ''As for organisations like the triads in Hongkong, as long as these people are patriotic, as long as they are concerned with Hongkong's prosperity and stability, we should unite with them. I believe that the more people we unite with the better.'' - Tao Siju, China's Minister of Public Security.

LIU ''We did not expect anti-Communism to be like this.'' - Liu Baocai, after hearing he may face criminal proceedings in Taiwan after hijacking a plane from the mainland to Taipei.

KEMPSTER ''Everyone was happy to reach the conclusion that all that could have been done to assure Bui of his safety had been done. It had not.'' - Mr Justice Kempster in the first of his two reports on a murder trial that collapsed because of inadequate protection for a Vietnamese witness.

CHAN ''I think we are prepared to tolerate threats, but we draw the line at violence.'' - Anthony Chan, assistant director of Social Welfare, warning that a breakdown in law and order would not be allowed at an estate where residents object to a hostel for the mentally handicapped.

ZLOBIN ''I believe the 10 best baseball, tennis and basketball teams in the United States get more in a year.'' - Russian opposition spokesman Konstantin Zlobin, belittling the aid package promised Boris Yeltsin by President Clinton.

BOUTROS ''I have to honour the agreement. . . I'm not the Khmer Rouge.'' - United Nations General Secretary Boutros Boutros-Ghali, arriving in Cambodia during the run-up to UN-supervised elections next month.

HO ''As a managing director. . . I was used to sitting behind an executive's desk, but I realised I would have to humble myself if I wanted to get a degree.'' - Ho Kai-cheong, aged 82, who squeezes behind a child's desk to study at Christian Hongkong Nam Wah College. He is one of 30 post-secondary students hoping for a degree.

CHEE ''Why don't you go on glucose water and see how long it sustains you?'' - Singaporean opposition politician Dr Chee Soon Juan answering criticism of his diet during his hunger strike.