The last British governor of Hong Kong joins us to share unprecedented insights into negotiating with the Chinese government and reflect on the new superpower’s role on the world stage.

In June 1992 Chris Patten went to Hong Kong as the last British governor, to try to prepare it not for independence, but for handing back in 1997 to the Chinese, from whom most of its territory had been leased 99 years previously.

Now, Lord Patten joins us live on stage in London to share insights into how Hong Kong was run as a British colony and tell the story of what happened as the handover approached. He will tell us how he sought to strengthen the institutions of self-government, only to be met by opposition from both the Chinese themselves and British businessmen and civil servants, for whom political freedom and the rule of law seemed less important than keeping on the right side of Beijing.

Most important of all, he will bring us up to date with an account of what has happened in Hong Kong since the handover, offering a powerful assessment of recent events and offering insights into how to deal with China – then and now.

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