, Columnist
Why Thatcher Wasn’t Her Era’s Most Transformative Leader
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In September 1982, U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher traveled to Beijing to discuss the future of Hong Kong with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping.
It wasn’t an easy encounter. Premier Zhao Ziyang had previously announced China’s determination to reclaim sovereignty over Hong Kong, which had been a British colony for 140 years. Thatcher later told the press that her talks with Deng were friendly. In reality, Deng hadn’t concealed his anger.