If hong kong is ceded to UK forever. PLA would have liberate HK right after the The Korea war.If he actually thought 99 was as good as forever he simply would have put “forever” in the document instead of 99 and saved any future questioning about his intentions.
I’m not sure the waiting game was a great example of determination.
Look at “forever” lease Guantanamo. Now at year 119. I’m sure once the Castro cronies are gone it will be returned…and that isn’t due to some great display of determination.
The UK actually scared of PLA right after Korea war in 1953, they know they have no way to stop PLA from recaptured it. But Mao want HK to be the window for China to trade and communicate with West. He assured UK that PRC will wait for 1997.