4 The Assessment Office's judgemeḥt 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 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 24 November.
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.