Murdoch blames 'inept' Patten book editors

The media magnate, Rupert Murdoch, has blamed executives at a publishing company he owns for a row over alleged attempts by the company to censor a book by the last British governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten.

Mr Murdoch said he did not have a high regard for Mr Patten and had urged his executives to decline to publish the book.

But he denied telling them to try to censor it and said they had handled the matter ineptly.

Mr Patten had written critically of the leadership in China where Mr Murdoch has business interests.

But Mr Murdoch said there had been no pressure from China and the decision not to publish had been entirely his.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service