CONFIDENTIAL
(C) ASSESSMENT OFFICE
7. The people of Hong Kong have been given every encouragement to
express their opinions on the agreement, and an objective analysis
of their views has been laid before the House. As the report of the
Assessment Office indicates, the majority of the people of Hong Kong
find the draft agreement acceptable. The conclusions of the
Assessment Office have been confirmed by the report of the
independent Team of Monitors, who also concluded that the Assessment
Office had fulfilled its task accurately, fairly and impartially.
would like to add my thanks to those of the Foreign and Commonwealth
Secretary for the excellent job done by both the Assessment Office and the Monitors, despite some unfounded criticisms. The Assessment Office has been vigorously methodical and impartial in its task. The Monitors gave up their many other commitments to perform their
important function, and we are most grateful to them.
8. Of course,
I
as hon Members have pointed out, some individuals in
Hong Kong have expressed reservations about particular aspects, or hopes about the way in which the agreement is to be implemented. These views have been fully recorded in the Assessment Office
Report, and I can assure the House that these views will be borne in mind by the Government in future discussions with the Chinese
Government on the implementation of the agreement.
CONFIDENTIAL