TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 278

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agreement acceptable". There are t wo

notes of criticism. It is

regretted that the importance of consulting and assessing the views

of Hong Kong on the draft agreement had not been more fully explained at the political level. The Monitors also express the

view that public concern in Hong Kong about the confidentiality of

submissions to the Assessment Office could have been avoided. On

both these points I think we shall simply need to admit gracefully that in retrospect more might have been done. The report concludes with two more general reflections which, strictly speaking, perhaps

go beyond the Team's terms of reference:

future..

i) "Nobody in Hong Kong can escape the uncertainties of the

The majority who accept [the agreement] do so

chiefly because they regard reunification as inevitable and are

relieved that the terms of the draft agreement are as good as

they are.

ii) [The people of Hong Kong] "know that their future now lies in their own hands: and the widespread concern

involved.......... in the drafting of the Basic Law is a timely

and important token of their wish to stand increasingly on

their own political feet".

Both observations are no doubt accurate: the second has important

implications for the evolution of Hong Kong's political life in the

years that lie immediately ahead..

26 November 1984

Працый

A C Galsworthy

Hong Kong Department

CONFIDENTIAL