Kowtowing Sinophile? Sir Percy Cradock and the Future of Hong Kong

Abstract

My paper is about Sir Percy Cradock, former British Ambassador to China, first chief British negotiator, and keen critic of British policy after his retirement. I use the newly available Percy Cradock papers at Cambridge to reveal personal dimensions and show how his China-based training did not fully prepare him to anticipate challenges in Hong Kong. I also show that his personal desire for a legacy meant that he lashed out publicly at the colonial administration during his retirement. I conclude that his sinologist training was in fact a hindrance when dealing with people of Hong Kong, linking high diplomacy to the social impact. I also draw out points regarding the use of memoirs, personal papers and other sources in addition to official archival material.