The Falklands

[NY Yankee]

The residents of the Falklands wish to remain British. Therefore, the Government has rightly said that they will keep the Islands British until the islanders state otherwise.

The international media gave the impression that the UK was oppressing the indigenous people. However, as I learned, there are two sides to every story.

 

[Eagle]

Slightly different but didn't the people of Hong Kong wish to remain British in 1997? Obviously China is a more dangerous enemy than Argentina...

Yes, but that was a case of a 99-year lease expiring. The return to the PRC was by default (and it's interesting to note that the "one coutry, two systems" policy meant that little much changed overnight).
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The international media gave the impression that the UK was oppressing the indigenous people.

There are no indigenous people, only British settlers (or so it could be argued... :P).

 

[Zoe]

Yes, but that was a case of a 99-year lease expiring. The return to the PRC was by default (and it's interesting to note that the "one coutry, two systems" policy meant that little much changed overnight).

Only the New Territories were on the 99 year lease. Hong Kong Island and Kowloon were not but in the 1980s it was agreed that these would go back to China at the same time the New Territories lease expired.

 

[Eagle]

Only the New Territories were on the 99 year lease. Hong Kong Island and Kowloon were not but in the 1980s it was agreed that these would go back to China at the same time the New Territories lease expired.

I know, but that was only sensible, being as the boundary of the NT goes right through several built-up areas, and so having an international border there would be nigh-on impossible.

 

[Zoe]

Also Portugal agreed in the 1980s that Macau would go back to China in 1999.

 

[SWT_USER]

Deleted

 

[SS4]

The international media gave the impression that the UK was oppressing the indigenous people. However, as I learned, there are two sides to every story.

That's interesting to know. We get the complete opposite as you may well imagine.

Just goes to show how much you can trust the "news"

 

[Schnellzug]

The international media gave the impression that the UK was oppressing the indigenous people. However, as I learned, there are two sides to every story.

I don't think there actually were any indiginous people until various colonists happened along (and the Spanish, incidentally, were almost the last on the scene).

 

[Eagle]

(and the Spanish, incidentally, were almost the last on the scene).

The first, however, were the French. People from Saint-Malo in Brittany, who christened the islands Îles Malouines.

 

[yorksrob]

You do have to wonder how much research these "international media" types have bothered to do on the issue. And I thought our press were questionable

 

[IanXC]

Slightly different but didn't the people of Hong Kong wish to remain British in 1997? Obviously China is a more dangerous enemy than Argentina...

Why does this come to mind!

Jim Hacker: "We should always fight for the weak against the strong."
Sir Humphrey: "Well, why don't we send troops to Afghanistan to fight the Russians?"
Jim Hacker: "The Russians are too strong."

 

[LE Greys]

Yes, but that was a case of a 99-year lease expiring. The return to the PRC was by default (and it's interesting to note that the "one coutry, two systems" policy meant that little much changed overnight).

I'm now trying to imagine the fallout if we had "returned" Hong Kong to Taiwan!

 

[Trog]

The same with the USA and Hawaii then?

No the invaders there remained in control and no one came to the rescue.

 

[SS4]

You do have to wonder how much research these "international media" types have bothered to do on the issue. And I thought our press were questionable

The alternative is that media on these shores are distorting the truth. It's hardly uncommon when it comes to military matters - you may know it by the word propaganda

 

[WelshBluebird]

The alternative is that media on these shores are distorting the truth. It's hardly uncommon when it comes to military matters - you may know it by the word propaganda

From what I can tell, that is defiantly not the case with the Falklands (I see no reason why my friend would lie to me, and as she lives in the Falklands, I prefer to believe her).

 

[ainsworth74]

From what I can tell, that is defiantly not the case with the Falklands (I see no reason why my friend would lie to me, and as she lives in the Falklands, I prefer to believe her).

Indeed! Whilst I don't have any friends to call up on in the Falklands I'm pretty secure in thinking that our media hasn't got this one wrong and aren't particularly distorting the truth.

 

[Butts]

Slightly different but didn't the people of Hong Kong wish to remain British in 1997? Obviously China is a more dangerous enemy than Argentina...

An agreement was signed for a lease of 100 years, when that expired the Islands reverted to Chinese Control.

 

[Eagle]

I'm now trying to imagine the fallout if we had "returned" Hong Kong to Taiwan!

Well being as the entity we leased it off (the Empire of China) hadn't existed since 1911 I guess it was a case of judgement...