23. IN BRIEF, THEIR MESSAGE IS THIS. NOBODY IN HONG KONG CAN ESCAPE THE UNCERTAINTIES OF THE FUTURE: THOSE WHO HAVE, OR CAN ACQUIRE, A RIGHT OF ABODE' ELSEWHERE WILL TAKE PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS IN THE SHORT TERM WHILE HOPING FOR THE BEST IN HONG KONG IN THE LONG TERM. THE MINORITY WHO REJECT THE DRAFT AGREEMENT
DO SO EITHER BECAUSE THEY CAN NEVER ACCEPT REUNIFICATION WITH COMMUNIST CHINA OR BECAUSE THEY ARE BITTER ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES
FOR THEMSELVES AS A BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS. THE
MAJORITY WHO ACCEPT IT DO SO CHIEFLY BECAUSE THEY REGARD
REUNIFICATION AS INVEITABLE AND ARE RELIEVED THAT THE TERMS OF
THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ARE AS GOOD AS THEY ARE.
24. BUT THE VERDICT OF ACCEPTANCE IMPLIES NEITHER POSITIVE ENTHUSIASM NOR PASSIVE ACQUIESCENCE. THE RESPONSE TO THE
· ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAS DEMONSTRATED THE REALISM OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THEY KNOW THAT THEIR FUTURE NOW LIES IN THEIR OWN HANDS: AND THE WIDESPREAD CONCERN TO BE INVOLVED, AS THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE REPORT HAS HIGHLIGHTED, IN THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW IS A TIMELY AND IMPORTANT TOKEN OF THEIR WISH TO STAND INCREASINGLY ON THEIR OWN POLITICAL FEET.
DATED THIS 24TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 1984.
(PATRICK NAIRNE)
(SIMON F.S. LI)
TERMS OF REFERENCE
FOR THE MONITORING TEAM
ANNEX I
THE INDEPENDENT MONITORING TEAM HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS. ITS ROLE IS TO MONITOR THE WORK OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG TO ASSESS AND REPORT ON THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
2.
THE TASKS OF THE MONITORING TEAM ARE:-
(A) TO OBSERVE THE WORK OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE
IN ALL ITS ASPECTS: AND
SECRET
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