of the Assessment Office and the independent Monitoring Team have now been published and laid before Parliament in a White Paper. The conclusion of the Assessment Office is that the agreement as a whole is acceptable to the majority of people in Hong Kong, while the Monitoring Team regard this as the outcome of an impartial assessment, properly conducted. It is in light of these reports that the House will wish to discuss the draft agreement.
Next week's debate will be an important occasion for the House and for the people of Hong Kong. We will be determining the future of the territory and its 5 million people for a period stretching well into the 21st century.
If Parliament approves the Government's intentions to sign the draft agreement the Prime Minister will travel to Peking later this month to participate in the signature ceremony together with Premier Zhao Ziyang.
This will symbolise the high level of political commitment to the agreement which exists on both sides. Following signature the Government will introduce a Bill on Hong Kong providing for the termination of sovereignty and other measures flowing from the agreement. The House will have a full opportunity to debate this Bill in the New Year.