Gary Ka-wai Cheung
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9789622090897
- eISBN:
- 9789882207011
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Hong Kong University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5790/hongkong/9789622090897.003.0008
- Subject:
- History, Asian History
This chapter discusses the subtle differences in the approach implemented by the Hong Kong government and that implemented by London and British diplomats in Beijing. While an aggressive and ...
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This chapter discusses the subtle differences in the approach implemented by the Hong Kong government and that implemented by London and British diplomats in Beijing. While an aggressive and provocative stance towards leftists was adopted by Governor David Trench, a more cautious assessment of the situation in the colony and handling of the disturbances was executed by London and British diplomats in Beijing. Trench believed that a prolonged crisis would be the “worst of all possible situations for Hong Kong”. He believed that there was a chance that by taking a very firm line, there might be some prospect of inducing a change of the mainland authorities' attitude which would enable both sides to disengage confrontation. This chapter also discusses the acute disagreement between Trench and Hopson on the deregistration of Chung Hwa Middle School and the US naval visit to Hong Kong.Less
This chapter discusses the subtle differences in the approach implemented by the Hong Kong government and that implemented by London and British diplomats in Beijing. While an aggressive and provocative stance towards leftists was adopted by Governor David Trench, a more cautious assessment of the situation in the colony and handling of the disturbances was executed by London and British diplomats in Beijing. Trench believed that a prolonged crisis would be the “worst of all possible situations for Hong Kong”. He believed that there was a chance that by taking a very firm line, there might be some prospect of inducing a change of the mainland authorities' attitude which would enable both sides to disengage confrontation. This chapter also discusses the acute disagreement between Trench and Hopson on the deregistration of Chung Hwa Middle School and the US naval visit to Hong Kong.
