ABSTRACT
Hong Kong underwent what has been called ‘de-colonization without independence’ in anticipation of 1997.247 Unlike other British colonies, the option of national independence was not open to Hong Kong.248 Due to historical and political restrictions, Hong Kong was not given a chance to decide on its own future. The findings of a number of opinion polls conducted at that time showed that the vast majority preferred the status quo of British rule, and the return of the territory to Chinese sovereignty and administration was the least preferred option. Yet Hong Kong people were neither given the chance to participate in the Sino-British negotiations, nor was the Sino-British Joint Declaration249
agreement submitted to a referendum of the Hong Kong people.250 Political negotiations between Britain and PRC began in the late 1970s and ended in 1984. From then on, Hong Kong entered a transition period with two political regimes attempting to assert their authority over an island where six million people lived.251
