Back in 1959 Han Suyin (韩素音) rightly and precisely described Hong Kong as a miracle on borrowed time in a borrowed place. She, however, should have also pointed out that the tenancy of Hong Kong would be no more if and when Chinese nationalism came back with a vengeance. But the late British prime minster Margaret Thatcher failed to appreciate that.

In 1982, the Iron Lady asked Deng Xiaoping to let Hong Kong remain under British rule after 1997. Britain's winning back the Falklands from Argentina must have blinded her to the minefield of nationalism on the Chinese side. She had no idea that the CCP was compelled to weaponize patriotism, then as now.

If Thatcher had kept her mouth shut, Deng might just leave Hong Kong alone as his late comrade Chairman Mao did for mutual benefits. Hong Kong was sacrificed to British pride and prejudice---and, above all, ignorance. Ignorant British politicians didn't understand that no Chinese leader could afford to sign away Hong Kong again, factually or symbolically.

Author: renqiulan