TNAG-2217-FCO40-3184-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 135

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Britain, cooperation with China in the transitional period is

hampered by several factors. In the first place, British mistrust

of China is deep-rooted. Working together with China might impede

the pursuit of British national interests in Hong Kong in the

last years of colonial rule. Because of different needs and

definitions of the Hong Kong situation, the two governments'

perception of their own interests and the interests of Hong Kong

is bound to diverge. Given the antipathy of the Hong Kong people

to the Chinese government in general and to Chinese 'meddling'

in local affairs in particular, collaboration between Britain and

China might further confirm the 'lame duck' image of the colonial

government in the public mind. As many civil servants in Hong

Kong harbor extremely negative attitude toward China, closer

cooperation between the two governments is also likely to divide

the civil service and demoralize part of it. In short, in order

to enlist the support of China in the expansion of the political

authority in Hong Kong, Britain might have to run the risk of

eventually playing second fiddle to China in governing Hong Kong

in the transitional period. Unless the situation is desperate,

the colonial government is expected to be only lukewarm to the

formation of an allied Sino-British political authority to

bolster the declining authority of the colonial government.

Britain of course can choose to ally with other political

forces to buttress its political capability. To procure the

support of a foreign government or a number of foreign

governments is obviously an option. But in an age when

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