Reassessing Thatcher’s foreign policy: The Sino-British Declaration 1984

This article presents a ‘primacy of domestic politics’ interpretation the Thatcher government’s main objectives in negotiations early 1980s, which secured return Hong Kong to China 1997. In immediate aftermath Falklands conflict, sovereignty issues were uppermost public discourse and decision cede over seems inconsistent with other elements Thatcher’s foreign policy. However, when placed context economic it is clear that liberalisation deregulation agenda would be undermined by lack investor confidence sterling overseas should business disrupted potentially disastrous diversification out sterling. The 1984 Joint Declaration special status for enshrining independence currency banking system thereby averting crisis have had major implications City London policies.