Hong Kong Metamorphosis

18.Epilogue

18฀ Epilogue Retirement In retirement , I soon found tha t I could no t kee p up with th e minutiae o f government activity . Onc e outsid e th e government , yo u ar e outsid e th e system o f briefing s an d of f th e circulatio n o f polic y papers . I becam e much mor e a n armchai r critic , mor e intereste d i n broade r issue s a s see n in th e media , o r discusse d i n gossip . S o m y accoun t o f event s afte r m y retirement i s less backed b y personal knowledg e an d i s bound t o includ e more speculation . Tiananmen The glo w o f good relation s wit h Chin a tha t followe d o n th e signin g o f the Joint Declaratio n replace d th e mor e uneas y relation s tha t ha d existe d between China and Hong Kong during the negotiations. Sir Edward Youd e gave priority t o the clearing-u p o f old problems an d som e ne w ones suc h as identit y car d an d passpor t issues . These friendl y relation s wit h Chin a too k a disastrou s tur n afte r th e Tiananmen trouble s i n 1989 . Peopl e watched , wit h increasin g unease , the prolonge d demonstration s whic h wer e s o damaging durin g th e visi t of Russia's Gorbachev . Th e whol e o f Hong Kon g revolte d a t th e new s of the bruta l suppressio n o f th e demonstrations . M y wif e an d I wer e tw o 232 | HON G KON G METAMORPHOSI S among th e sombr e thousand s a t th e Happ y Valle y Racecours e o n 4 June. These crowd s whic h gathere d i n enormou s numbers , a t first i n Central , and the n a t th e racecourse , wer e quie t an d orderl y withou t a policema n in sight . Ther e wa s a ver y movin g outpourin g o f grie f whic h pervade d the whole community . Ther e wer e elements o f fear, bu t th e predominan t feeling wa s on e o f anguis h a t th e appallin g breakdow n i n huma n relationships i n Beijing . Britain brok e of f negotiation s wit h Chin a i n th e Sino-Britis h Join t Liaison Grou p whic h deal t wit h detail s o f relations betwee n Hon g Kon g and China . Hon g Kon g peopl e ha d sen t considerabl e fund s t o suppor t the protester s i n Tiananme n Squar e whic h wa s covere d i n Hon g Kon g tents. In Octobe r 198 9 th e Governor , no w Si r Davi d Wilson , announce d impressive plans for th e development tha t th e building o f the new airpor t would require . Outlin e plannin g fo r thes e majo r work s ha d bee n completed. The y no w had t o be announced s o that detaile d plannin g an d the wor k coul d g o ahead . Th e Governo r ha d tol d th e Chinese , o n mor e than on e occasion, what wa s planned an d what h e would sa y in his annua l speech t o th e Legislativ e Counci l i n October . H e receive d n o advers e response. W e ha d no t sough t prio r Beijin g agreemen t fo r suc h majo r public work s a s th e firs t cross-harbou r tunne l o r th e constructio n o f th e MTR, bu t thi s projec t wa s different . I t migh t jus t b e complete d befor e the handover , bu t i t woul d leav e considerabl e deb t behin d fo r th e ne w government, eve n...