CONFIDENTIAL
3. With an unprecedentedly good Sino-British relationship after the signature of the Joint Declaration (The Queen's State Visit to China in 1986 was the high point) steady progress was made in laying the groundwork for Hong Kong's post-1997 future. There were nevertheless underlying tensions deriving from the different approaches of the two sides. The British objective was to build up Hong Kong's autonomy post-1997 so as to limit the scope for Chinese interference. The Chinese laid the main emphasis on their sovereignty and the preservation of their freedom of action.
TIANANMEN
4. The Tiananmen Square events in June 1989 added immeasurably to the difficulties. In particular:
Hong Kong people's fear of China greatly increased, leading to higher emigration (about 60,000 in 1990).
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Chinese leaders' suspicions of the attitudes of Hong Kong people (who had given material support to the Chinese demonstrators, and had themselves demonstrated against their repression by the Chinese authorities) also increased, as did their suspicions of the actions and motives of the British and Hong Kong Governments.
- There was a marked change in attitudes towards China in the UK media and public, resulting in demands that the Government should stand up to (or ignore) China in handling Hong Kong issues.
LEGAER/2
CONFIDENTIAL