4. The Assessment Office's judgement is that "After the most careful analysis and consideration of all the information received, the Office has concluded that most of the people of Hong Kong find the draft agreement acceptable." The agreement
The agreement was endorsed by all
the principal representative bodies in Hong Kong, including the Executive, Legislative and Urban Councils, the Heung Yee Kuk and all eighteen District Boards. The overwhelming majority of organisations and groups which expressed their views found the draft
agreement acceptable. Of the just over 1,000 individuals who clearly stated their views 677 accepted the agreement and 364 rejected it. The overall picture from reports by and through the media was one of general acceptance. The findings of various independent opinion surveys also indicated general acceptance of the agreement. In an independent survey of 6,124 respondents 81% stated that they thought the agreement was very good or quite good.
5. The report notes that the overall acceptance of the agreement has in many cases been accompanied by expressions of concern and
anxiety about its implementation.
It
summarises the comments made
on every aspect of the draft agreement by those who have discussed
it. The comments focussed in particular on the drafting of the Basic Law, the question of nationality and defence. The report suggests that these views will be of value to Parliament, and also
in the discussions between Britain and China in the Joint Liaison Group on the implementation of the agreement.
REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT MONITORING TEAM
6. The report of the independent Monitoring Team was presented to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Sir
Patrick Nairne and Mr Justice Simon Li Fook-sean on November.
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7. The terms of reference of the Monitoring Team were to observe
the work of the Assessment Office and to report independently of the
report of the Office, stating whether it was satisfied that the Assessment Office had properly, accurately and impartially discharged its duties and faithfully followed the procedures
prescribed in its terms of reference.