TNAG-2703-FCO40-3909-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 26

constant

policy during this period did impose its strains and demand

more than usual self-control on the part of London and Hong

Kong. However logical and justified, the

compromises and accommodations with China did not come

easily; and even when spectacular settlements were

achieved, as over the airport, the period of goodwill and

cooperation they engendered proved disappointingly brief.

The Chinese were always difficult; after 1989 they grew

even more antagonistic and demanding. As they saw it, they

were engaged in the final stages of the struggle for Hong

Kong, facing all kinds of capitalist wiles. The task of

British officials engaged regularly with them, as in the

Joint Liaison Group, called for superhuman patience.

Moreover, as the period of British rule dwindled, we were

being driven, on grounds of pure practicality, into wider

consultations with the successor regime and on terms which

progressively less favourable. This was

would grow

inherent in the fact of the transition and the ultimate

transfer.

Reduced to its most precise form, the charge of

the critics was that we had overestimated Chinese strength

and underestimated their tolerance. All our experience,

both in the 1983-1984 period and later, argued strongly

against such a judgement. But there was no conclusive way of

proof, except by trial. And in October, 1992, probably more

by error than by intention, Britain and Hong Kong found

themselves engaged in a practical demonstration.

The issue arose over representative government

and the 1995 elections, The new Governor, Mr.Patten, was

!