In this context it is impossible to understand why Britains being so aggressive in its dealings with China.
The present situation has come about by the Governor announcing his proposals to elect representatives to the District Boards (bodies with responsibilities like a Parish Council in the UK) without first getting the approval of the Chinese Government. Worse, the proposals were apparently tested on the Chinese Government in advance, rejected, but still announced by Mr Patten. If true, this is hardly polite, and has produced an inevitably poor reaction from China, including personal animosity to the Governor.
Hong Kong is a small place where most people seek prosperity and know it will only come by working with China. People are happy to do so because China is developing so rapidly and positively. They do not regard subject of the current disagreement as an important matter, just "nice to have".
There is little hope that China will change its position on the current controversy. It's leaders want to see minimum change in Hong Kong. They believe that the electoral changes were agreed in the Basic Law and various exchanges between the two Foreign Ministers. These exchanges were published because the British side said no agreement was reached in them. I found the exchanges confusing, but it was clear that someone could have believed agreement had been reached.
My recommendation is that the British Government and the Governor must take the bold step of withdrawing these controversial proposals and resolve to work closely with China on the outstanding matters affecting Hong Kong's future.
Are the players big enough men to take such a bold step? I would like to think so. Britain and the Governor should be acting in the interests of Hong Kong. Unfortunately there is a widespread feeling in Hong Kong that the Governor has forgotten this, and is acting in the interests of his own political future in Britain. I hope it is not true.
I would appreciate your bringing my views to the attention of the appropriate people in the Government, and let's hope the controversy is settled very soon.
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