Conditions of Hong Kong Reverting to Chinese Rule

Talks began in 1982 between Margaret Thatcher and Deng Xiaoping that would determine the future fate of Hong Kong. Prime Minister Thatcher flew to Peking (Beijing the capital of the People’s Republic of China) in September 1982 in hopes of retaining Hong Kong as British, but she failed in her attempt.

Two years later in 1984 the signing between China and Britain of a “Joint Declaration” permitted that China would take back Hong Kong in 1997. Thatcher insisted on the inclusion of certain contingencies, being that during the 50 years following China’s take back of sovereignty, Hong Kong must remain a special administrative region; meaning Hong Kong SAR would be a separate system in two respects retaining its capitalist economy and a partial democratic political system.

But Thatcher from her own words revealed her thoughts and feelings regarding the chances for this “one country, two systems” success. Only continued British administration – British ‘rule’, she said – could guarantee Hong Kong’s well-being beyond 1997.

Proving her premonition we read today that in fact Mainlaind China is chipping away at Hong Kong’s democracy by limitting the people’s electoral choices to be only those first approved by China, which of course is not a true free election by the people and for the people. Many Hong Kong people are protesting this violation of their rights. We will watch to see how things will play out in the years to come.
Tags: Hong Kong SAR, China’s Take Back of Hong Kong, Margaret Thatcher, Hong Kong Democracy

Source: ( http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-mrs-thatcher-lost-hong-kong-ten-years-ago-fired-up-by-her-triumph-in-the-falklands-war-margaret-thatcher-flew-to-peking-for-a-lastditch-attempt-to-keep-hong-kong-under-british-rule–only-to-meet-her-match-in-deng-xiaoping-two-years-later-she-signed-the-agreement-handing-the-territory-to-china-1543375.html)