Patten fires human rights broadside

GOVERNOR Chris Patten fired a broadside in defence of Hong Kong's future freedom yesterday with a speech on human rights in Asia.

He told a conference in Sydney as part of his Australia tour that Hong Kong was determined to protect its democratic traditions.

And in what appeared to be a thinly-veiled attack on China, he warned against suppression of the human spirit.

''What are the lessons for Asia?'' he asked. ''Pretty much the same for the rest of the world I guess - don't what ever you do try to suppress the human spirit, because at the end of the day the human spirit will win.'' Mr Patten, addressing the Asia-Australia Institute in Sydney, said people wanted to be prosperous, but they also wanted to be free.

''They aren't convinced for long by arguments that freedom and prosperity are relative concepts. Most people just want as much of both as they can reasonably get,'' he added.

He said the argument that human rights were relative and could be suspended to make way for others, was curious and unacceptable.

''Are some Asian leaders really prepared to argue that respect for human dignity is an exclusively European or North American or Australian concept?'' he asked.

''I don't believe for a moment that human rights stop at the borders of Asia, and nor do I believe do most Asians.'' The Governor said he did not agree with those who claimed democracy and Asia did not mix.

He said Hong Kong was determined to protect its freedoms.