TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 306

2.28

THE MATERIAL THAT THE OFFICE HAS RECEIVED SHOWS THAT EVERY SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT ONLY BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT BUT HAS EXPRESSED A VIEW EITHER INDIVIDUALLY OR COLLECTIVELY: EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE NUMBER OF LETTERS RECEIVED BUT THE REPRESENTATIVE CHARACTER OF THE RESPONSE, PARTICULARLY FROM THE HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE WRITTEN IN THAT IS OF IMPORTANCE. THUS, THE VIEWS

TAKEN RECEIVED ON EVERY ASPECT OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT, TOGETHER, REPRESENT AND REFLECT THE OPINION OF A VERY WIDE - CROSS-SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE AND

CREDIBLE BASIS ON WHICH TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT.

CHAPTER 3 OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE

EXTENT OF ACCEPTABILITY

PART I: THE EXTENT OF ACCEPTABILITY

3.1

UNDER THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ITS TERMS OF

REFERENCE, THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE IS REQUIRED TO MAKE AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE EXTENT OF ACCEPTABILITY BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. 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.

3.2

ALL BUT A FEW HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE INEVITABILITY

OF THE REVERSION OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG TO CHINA IN 1997. THE PROPOSITION THAT AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IS PREFERABLE TO THERE BEING NO AGREEMENT, IS GENERALLY UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTED. FURTHERMORE, ALTHOUGH ANXIETIES AND RESERVATIONS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED BY MANY WHO HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR VIEWS, THE DETAILED PROVISIONS OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN

WELCOMED, WHILST THE ASSURANCES THAT THEY WILL BE IMPLEMENTED HAVE BEEN NOTED.

3.3

THE OVERALL ASSESSMENT AND THE VIEWS ON WHICH IT

IS BASED ARE ANALYSED IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS.

VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE MEDIA

SECRET -16-

13.4

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