TNAG-1289-FCO40-1641-Terminology-for-the-description-of-Hong-Kong-by-internationa-1984 — Page 131

discussion, debates, seminars, public speeches and internal views,

as well as a vast range of comment in the media. The views received

were from a wide cross-section of the community and provided a

credible basis on which to make an assessment.

6. The Assessment Office's judgement is that "after the most

careful analysis and consultation 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 of Hong Kong, including the

Executive, Legislative and Urban Councils, the Heung Yee Kuk and the

18 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 general acceptance. The findings of various independent opinion surveys indicated general acceptance of the agreement as well.

one of

7. Naturally not everyone was

everyone was content with every aspect of the The Assessment Office has recorded very comprehensively

agreement.

the concerns and qualifications expressed by the people of

Hong Kong. This will assist discussion between the British and Chinese Governments in the Joint Liaison Group on the implementation

of the agreement. The main points expressed were:

(a) Concern about lack of detail in the agreement on

structure of the SAR Government, especially the

appointment of Chief Executive.

COMMENT:

[The detailed structure of Government will be a matter

for the Basic Law to be passed by the National People's

Congress. It would not have been right to attempt to

lay down details 13 years in advance. It is necessary to allow for development between now and 1997.1

/ (b)