Biggest mistake they made
I think they had a 99-year lease. Came to an end.
Much of Hong Kong only belonged to UK because of a 99-year lease which the Chinese choose not to renew. Don’t think the remainder that did belong to UK by treaty would have been viable. Don’t think the Brits really had a choice. Perhaps they thought that in 50 years mainland China might not be so bad.
The Brits were honoring their 99 year treaty.