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17 Negotiations Concluded, 1983-198 5 / [ n December 1983 the Governor and Executive Councillors travelled to London without his officials for an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher, Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe, Sir Percy Cradock, and other ministers and officials, t o discuss the impasse the negotiations about th e future ha d reached . Time wa s runnin g out . I n Septembe r 1984 , i f n o agreemen t wer e reached, China' s ow n twenty-poin t pla n fo r Hon g Kong , whic h ha d already been published, would be implemented. The twenty points were seductive but contained nothing on the detail of Hong Kong's legal system and governance, its economy and social system, and no guarantees tha t the twent y point s woul d materialis e an d tha t Hon g Kong' s way o f lif e would b e maintained . A t thi s point , Si r Perc y Cradoc k supplie d th e intuition, the imagination, and the words to bridge the gap between th e two sides . Sir Percy had returned to London from being Ambassador in Beijing to becom e Mr s Thatcher' s foreig n polic y adviser , an d i t wa s h e wh o supplied th e formul a whic h wa s t o brea k th e deadloc k an d t o lea d t o agreement. Hi s proposal was t o take th e Chines e proposals, th e twent y points, and othe r statement s which ha d been made and t o see whether , using them as a base, a solid structure could be built which would ensur e continuing autonomy , freedom, stabilit y and prosperity fo r Hong Kong . If this could be done the Prime Minister would be willing to recommen d to Parliament the transfer of sovereignty to China and the accompanyin g 17 Negotiations Concluded, 1983-1985 n December 1983 the Governor and Executive Councillors travelled to London without his officials for an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher, Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe, Sir Percy Cradock, and other ministers and officials, to discuss the impasse the negotiations about the future had reached. Time was running out. In September 1984, if no agreement were reached, China's own twenty-point plan for Hong Kong, which had already been published, would be implemented. The twenty points were seductive but contained nothing on the detail ofHong Kong's legal system and governance, its economy and social system, and no guarantees that the twenty points would materialise and that Hong Kong's way of life would be maintained. At this point, Sir Percy Cradock supplied the intuition, the imagination, and the words to bridge the gap between the two sides. Sir Percy had returned to London from being Ambassador in Beijing to become Mrs Thatcher's foreign policy adviser, and it was he who supplied the formula which was to break the deadlock and to lead to agreement. His proposal was to take the Chinese proposals, the twenty points, and other statements which had been made and to see whether, using them as a base, a solid structure could be built which would ensure continuing autonomy, freedom, stability and prosperity for Hong Kong. H this could be done the Prime Minister would be willing to recommend to Parliament the transfer of sovereignty to China and the accompanying Feeling the Stones arrangements fo r th e administratio n o f Hon g Kon g b y China . O n thi s basis down-to-earth negotiation s began. As we entere d 198 4 ther e wer e onl y nin e month s i n whic h t o pu t together the detailed description of Hong Kong's government and way of life, with the solid backing of a legal system and administration to preserve it. This was required if any agreement was to survive and be acceptable to Hong Kong people and world opinion . Sir Edward Youde worked tirelessly, making visit after visit to Beijing and when necessary to London, as a member of a negotiating team led by the British Ambassador t o China , Si r Richard Evans , who ha d replace d Sir Percy as Ambassador. Another tea m worked in Hong Kong and late r in Beijing , sendin g paper s backward s an d forward s betwee n...

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