HONG KONG Governor Chris Patten yesterday expressed concern that the

Chinese had invented a problem which could make talks impossible before

the forthcoming elections in the colony.

He said: ''We cannot stand around indefinitely wringing our hands and

hoping for talks.

''We all would like to see talks, but if China puts down

pre-conditions which make talks impossible, we will have to get on with

putting in place arrangements for the 1994 and 1995 elections.''

Mr Patten, speaking on BBC Radio 4, said: ''This week Chinese

officials were saying that talks were impossible, so they may have shut

the door to them. But we are happy to have talks at any time.''

He said China had ''suddenly invented this problem'' that Hong Kong

Government officials had no right to take part in the talks.

''I would not dream of trying to specify who should be in China's team

in any talks,'' he said.

Mr Patten denied that the introduction of an element of democracy in

Hong Kong was an attempt to introduce it into China itself.

''What we are talking about very simply is whether there should be

fair and open and acceptable electoral arrangements in 1995, the last

elections under British sovereignty, or whether, in effect, we should

agree to rig those elections.

''We should have clean arrangements for the last elections under

British sovereignty in 1995, and that Hong Kong people running Hong Kong

should be made a reality.

''That would be a decent and competent and honourable way of closing

the last chapter in our imperial history in 1997.''

Asked if he was optimistic, Mr Patten replied: ''Extremely optimistic.

Nobody has ever made any money by betting against Hong Kong.''