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英國檔案中的香港前途問題
中國和英國自 1970 年代末期開始就香港前途問題展開角力及談判，直至 1997年香港主權回歸中國才完結。近年，香港政局不穩，有論者提出疑問：在香港前途談判期間，如果英國政府採取較強硬的態度，會否有不一樣的結果？
本書由 1970 年代開始說起，深入記述及剖析中英雙方就香港回歸問題進行談判及角力的歷史，包括麥理浩與鄧小平在北京會面、戴卓爾夫人訪華、中英談判的全過程、香港政制發展的爭議等。過去人們只能從雙方官員的公開講話及新聞報道了解這段歷史，而本書的特別之處是參考了近十年英國國家檔案館（The National Archives）陸續解封的機密檔案，包括英治香港時期的政府檔案、香港政府官員與英國政府之間的往來書信及電報等，揭開中英雙方及多位政治人物在外交辭令背後較真實的想法與盤算。
通過閱讀解密檔案，讀者可以親自「觸摸歷史」，重新認識這段影響香港未來的重要歷程。
本書由 1970 年代開始說起，深入記述及剖析中英雙方就香港回歸問題進行談判及角力的歷史，包括麥理浩與鄧小平在北京會面、戴卓爾夫人訪華、中英談判的全過程、香港政制發展的爭議等。過去人們只能從雙方官員的公開講話及新聞報道了解這段歷史，而本書的特別之處是參考了近十年英國國家檔案館（The National Archives）陸續解封的機密檔案，包括英治香港時期的政府檔案、香港政府官員與英國政府之間的往來書信及電報等，揭開中英雙方及多位政治人物在外交辭令背後較真實的想法與盤算。
通過閱讀解密檔案，讀者可以親自「觸摸歷史」，重新認識這段影響香港未來的重要歷程。
253 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 12, 2023
In the Preface, the Lord Wilson of Tillyorn summaries well the nature of this book: “Gary Cheung has made full use of his access to the British Government records, most of which are now open to the public in the National Archives in London.
Indeed, he has been assiduous in pressing for the opening of records, some of which would not otherwise have been released to the public before 2049. The result is the most detailed account yet produced of the exchanges concerning Hong Kong between Ministers and officials in London, Hong Kong, and the British Embassy in Beijing.” The author has also consulted a handful of secondary sources. What we get is a masterclass in diplomacy. Oftentimes, the lines between the possible and wishful thinking; between paranoia and reality; between bluffs and ultimata; between heroism and ulteriority are hard to discern. One of the ironies that the book demonstrates is that whilst both the British and Chinese governments tried to exclude the voices of the people of Hong Kong in the arrangement of transfer of its sovereignty, the trajectory was nevertheless heavily morphed, shaped, and even metamorphosed by them — for better or worse. Public opinion matters. There aren’t many gasping moments in the book but there are many I-thought-so revelations. I feel that the author is mildly biased but he has done his best to be even-handed. Like going through other books of similar sort, readers need to exercise constant scrutiny. A must for those who are interested in this part of the history of Hong Kong. Four stars.
Indeed, he has been assiduous in pressing for the opening of records, some of which would not otherwise have been released to the public before 2049. The result is the most detailed account yet produced of the exchanges concerning Hong Kong between Ministers and officials in London, Hong Kong, and the British Embassy in Beijing.” The author has also consulted a handful of secondary sources. What we get is a masterclass in diplomacy. Oftentimes, the lines between the possible and wishful thinking; between paranoia and reality; between bluffs and ultimata; between heroism and ulteriority are hard to discern. One of the ironies that the book demonstrates is that whilst both the British and Chinese governments tried to exclude the voices of the people of Hong Kong in the arrangement of transfer of its sovereignty, the trajectory was nevertheless heavily morphed, shaped, and even metamorphosed by them — for better or worse. Public opinion matters. There aren’t many gasping moments in the book but there are many I-thought-so revelations. I feel that the author is mildly biased but he has done his best to be even-handed. Like going through other books of similar sort, readers need to exercise constant scrutiny. A must for those who are interested in this part of the history of Hong Kong. Four stars.
January 20, 2024
資料整理認真詳實，有條不紊，可說是中生代歷史方面的香港作者中之翹楚。
最後亦附年表，如稍嫌不足的，就是製作索引（是極為吃力不討好的事），不過沒有索引也不至於大為影響此書之價值。另外錯字也有一點，校對時看漏了眼。
最後亦附年表，如稍嫌不足的，就是製作索引（是極為吃力不討好的事），不過沒有索引也不至於大為影響此書之價值。另外錯字也有一點，校對時看漏了眼。
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews