"As a document, the agreement is quite as good as could have been
expected"
Daily Telegraph, 27 September 1984, Final and Binding?
"Recognising also, however, the limits on our modern powers to edge Hongkong towards the nationhood enjoyed by the rest of the Commonwealth, the agreement reached is a good one.
The Guardian, 27 September 1984, Hong Kong: now make it work
"But strictly in terms of what may currently be prophesied, yesterday's published deal seems decent and careful and tolerably
realistic".
"Here, after a good deal of cautious bargaining, is the outline of a
new certainty".
The Times, 27 September 1984, Best of a bad job
"Bearing these considerations in mind, the agreement unveiled yesterday has much to be said for it. As expected it combines a British acknowledgement of China's claim to sovereignty over Hong Kong after 1997 with a Chinese commitment to retain the present social, economic and legal system in Hongkong largely unchanged for fifty years after that date. It also includes in the form of a 14-point annexe to the main joint declaration a series of detailed provisions for Hong Kong after 1997. In many ways these provisions are a triumph for British diplomacy. They are unusually clear and comprehensive far more so than appeared likely a few months ago and provide assurances that Hong Kong's way of life will remain unchanged right across the board,
M
And as
"But given the limits on what could be achieved, it comes close to being as good as Britain, and Hong Kong, can expect to get. such it should be judged a success".