I was recently playing a game where the British deny China's claim to Hong Kong in 1984. What surprised me was that when the conflict erupted, the English already had an aircraft carrier, reinforcements and British allies had troops on standby.
Then I listened to the explanation prior to the scenario and now my understanding is that the British and Chinese negotiated for maybe a year, giving the British time to coordinate troops and a battle plan.
And so, what I am wondering is if the British could outlast the Chinese?
The Harrier was a pretty good multi-role fighter. The British tanks could outmatch what the Chinese have, especially the Challenger I. The only issue is the Chinese have the British outnumbered. If the British could swiftly take air and naval superiority, the British with the Canadians and Australians could inflict a high casualty rate on the Chinese.
But are those factors enough to keep the Chinese back?