1. The following data are taken from Rory Boland's May 16 2017 "History of Hong Kong Timeline - from Mao to now" with the subheading "The tale of Hong Kong from feeling Mao to back to China".
1970’s – The British and Chinese government begin to negotiate about Hong Kong’s status after the 99-year lease of the New Territories runs out in 1997.
1984 – Margaret Thatcher announces that the whole of Hong Kong is to be handed back to China at midnight on June 30th 1997. It would have been practically impossible for the British to hold onto Hong Kong Island while handing back the New Territories. The area contains half of Hong Kong's population and all of its water supply. Hong Kongers partly welcome the move, although there are reservations.
1992 – Chris Patten, Hong Kong’s last governor, arrives to take up his post.
1993 – Patten attempts to expand the direct election of councillors to Hong Kong’s Legco in breach of the Chinese-British agreement on the handover of the city. Beijing would ultimately dismiss a number of these democratically elected councillors after the handover in 1997.
2. Unlimited US bipartisan support has strengthened the rioters' resolve to keep up the momentum of their protests. Hence it won't be surprising that the riots could last for a long time, even beyond 2047.
It is doubtful anyone involved in the Sino-British negotiations of Hong Kong's handover could have foreseen that Hong Kong would become a "Greek gift" for China in the long run. Sunzi and Zhuge Liang might be the exceptions. If they were still alive in 1970's, they might advise China to take back only the New Territories. It would not be surprising the inhabitants of the remaining territories would be begging China to take them back after a short while.
3. So far the Chinese government has been keeping its composure by allowing the local government and police to deal with the rioters despite the purported movement of military vehicles towards the Hong Kong border.
Using an analogy, a knight keeps his cool as he intercepts a lunatic's axe attacks patiently with a shield, fearing that killing the madman with one stroke of his sword might provoke the ire of onlookers. What will be his response if his shield is eventually hacked to pieces by the maniac? Will the knight leave quietly or unsheathe his sword or make another choice?
Recently an Asian statesman said: “I don’t see any easy way forward (for Hong Kong) because the demonstrators, they say they have five major demands, and not one can be compromised.”
In my opinion, China can try to take back the 99-year leased New Territories to govern it directly and let Hongkongers govern the rest of the territories in their own way.
1970’s – The British and Chinese government begin to negotiate about Hong Kong’s status after the 99-year lease of the New Territories runs out in 1997.
1984 – Margaret Thatcher announces that the whole of Hong Kong is to be handed back to China at midnight on June 30th 1997. It would have been practically impossible for the British to hold onto Hong Kong Island while handing back the New Territories. The area contains half of Hong Kong's population and all of its water supply. Hong Kongers partly welcome the move, although there are reservations.
1992 – Chris Patten, Hong Kong’s last governor, arrives to take up his post.
1993 – Patten attempts to expand the direct election of councillors to Hong Kong’s Legco in breach of the Chinese-British agreement on the handover of the city. Beijing would ultimately dismiss a number of these democratically elected councillors after the handover in 1997.
2. Unlimited US bipartisan support has strengthened the rioters' resolve to keep up the momentum of their protests. Hence it won't be surprising that the riots could last for a long time, even beyond 2047.
It is doubtful anyone involved in the Sino-British negotiations of Hong Kong's handover could have foreseen that Hong Kong would become a "Greek gift" for China in the long run. Sunzi and Zhuge Liang might be the exceptions. If they were still alive in 1970's, they might advise China to take back only the New Territories. It would not be surprising the inhabitants of the remaining territories would be begging China to take them back after a short while.
3. So far the Chinese government has been keeping its composure by allowing the local government and police to deal with the rioters despite the purported movement of military vehicles towards the Hong Kong border.
Using an analogy, a knight keeps his cool as he intercepts a lunatic's axe attacks patiently with a shield, fearing that killing the madman with one stroke of his sword might provoke the ire of onlookers. What will be his response if his shield is eventually hacked to pieces by the maniac? Will the knight leave quietly or unsheathe his sword or make another choice?
Recently an Asian statesman said: “I don’t see any easy way forward (for Hong Kong) because the demonstrators, they say they have five major demands, and not one can be compromised.”
In my opinion, China can try to take back the 99-year leased New Territories to govern it directly and let Hongkongers govern the rest of the territories in their own way.
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