Hong Kong '82: what next?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article1977594.ece

Not sure if this has been covered before?

The scenario I suppose follows what the article says: The negotiations result in unrest and civil strife in Hong Kong and the Chinese “requisition by force” the territory.

This is just after the Falklands, so what happens next? Obviously Britain can't really do all that much, but how does the world react to the Chinese actions? Economic sanctions, trade wars etc? Reduction of investment or movement of industry into China? Internally how would that affect China and the democracy movement?

Thoughts?
 
That's Crazy Talk

Why in the world would the PRC, especially under the relatively more level headed compared to Mao leadership of Deng Xiaoping want to ruin the chance of being handed over an incredibly well developed port metropolis on a nice piece of real estate in decades' time?

If it did happen though, it would certainly set US PRC relations far back and result in the double up of naval presence around the straights of Taiwan. But I don't see anything beyond that since you're talking about a nuclear armed nation of over a billion souls here.

Also the British kept in good faith with this Hong Kong contract despite the fact the Ming dynasty was long gone to avoid such a scenario.
 
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