Even so, Britain's physical control of the
colony
-
once it was re-established in 1945 at
the end of the Japanese occupation has never
And
-
been physically challenged by the Chinese.
there has been no recent doubt, even in the
absence of democratic political institutions,
about the wish of the great majority of the
people of Hong Kong for British control to
continue, at least until the expiry of the
lease.
ta
and if it were fearn the beyond it.
Thus the essentials of sovereignty, albeit on a
leasehold basis for most of the territory, have
subsisted and do subsist until the present day,
in the form of physical control and broad
popular consent. The bulk of the people of Hong
Kong have throughout looked to Her Majesty's
Government as their protector.
It is indeed on
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