Description
Most existing studies of the SBJD have analysed the negotiations from the viewpoint of the UK government. This paper presents results of research on the negotiation strategy from the Chinese side in the discussions which led to the Declaration. It will analyse the Chinese negotiation strategy through a detailed study of the memoirs of prominent diplomats who participated in and signed the Declaration. During the negotiations, the Chinese side prioritized the sovereignty issue rather than the confidence issue over Hong Kong which has led a number of authors to claim that British politicians/diplomats needed to educate the Chinese in the fundamentals of capitalism’. This paper suggests that this view is not wholly accurate and that the Chinese negotiators were perfectly aware of the importance of maintaining confidence in Hong Kong both in terms of international finance and the benefits thatone country two systems’ could bring to China.
