Cut hyperbole, face reality

PRAY, how does Christine McGee know that President Bill Clinton ''has cleared his Washington diary in early May to meet [Governor Patten]''? Her Saturday Review (April 17) piece contradicts an earlier article by the South China Morning Post Washington correspondent who said no date has been set for the meeting as yet. Or did a little birdie tell Ms McGee that Mr Clinton has indeed ''cleared his diary''? This means he'll drop the Bosnian and Russian crises, his health, care and employment programmes, tension in Los Angeles and all those other major issues, just so that he can shake hands with our esteemed Governor.

I suggest Ms McGee faces reality and cuts the hyperbole. Hongkong is far from being top of the Clinton agenda.

ISABELLA TAN Mid-Levels