TNAG-2791-FCO40-4030-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China.-With-maps-1993 — Page 148

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Hong Kong Government who

"stability and prosperity"

were

responsible

in the

territory

confrontational

for maintaining

and who were

committed above all to the goals of convergence with the Basic

Law and to the aim of effecting a 'through train' to take the

territory's institutions smoothly through the transition of

sovereignty the role of Martin Lee and his associates was seen

at the very least as irresponsible. More than one British

official who no longer exercise active responsibility for the

negotiations have described them as "mad, quite mad." Others have

complained of the fecklessness of Hong Kong politicians who

encouraged the British to take a stand against the Chinese side

only to turn on them when the going got rough by accusing them

of being needlessly

with the Chinese. The

irritation on the British side was understandable perhaps as the

negotiators carried out their rather thankless and bruising task.

But the perspectives of the politicians of Hong Kong must also

be understood. The British have suddenly thrust politics onto

them giving them less than thirteen years to organize themselves

and develop a political system from scratch under continual

threat from the huge dragon to the north when they are required

at the same time to act "responsibly" without having been given

responsibilities or allowed a presence at the negotiating table

where the fate of their people was being determined. These

pressures produced a rather feverish atmosphere in which there.

was much posturing and manoeuvring as the diverse interests and

politicians vied for attention and advancement.