The British Bulldog should have kicked the Chinese in the ass and Dared them to do anything about it.

It would have been a good fight, with the Chinese getting a bloody nose.

I don' think so. By then the UK public had long given up on the concept of the Empire in favor of a socialist state that had been created by diverting defense funds to social programs, and it was beginning to show by then. Ultimately, the choice would have been a disgraced surrender or use of the nuclear option.

Empire is soooo 19th century...time for that guff is long gone.

When you take something that doesn't belong to you, you gotsa give it back

According to a reliable source, who lived there, The Chinese were ignoring the treaty until the Brits brought it up. When you take something you keep it. Like Gibraltar or the Falklands. Keep it and kick the Chinese in the nuts for being so obsequious.