Widespread support for the agreement allowing 509 People's Liberation Army soldiers to cross the border at 9 pm on June 30 reflects an almost universal relief that this, hopefully final, row over handover arrangements has been resolved in a pragmatic manner.
With even the Democratic Party approving, along with virtually every commentary in the local Chinese-language press, it is difficult to find a single voice of dissent. Given this, it is difficult to see why the issue caused such controversy in the first place. Only a week earlier, British officials had repeatedly insisted there was no question of any pre-handover crossing, describing it as a matter of sovereignty.
Perhaps the kindest thing that can be said about this pointless row is that both sides have become so accustomed to arguing over every handover-related issue that they find it difficult to break the habit.
The decision to allow the PLA to enter the territory at 9 pm does seem somewhat grudging since it will force them to race across Hong Kong - some have to travel from the border to Stanley - in order to be in their new barracks before midnight. No one has explained why they could not enter earlier and so avoid contributing to the inevitable traffic chaos.
Nonetheless, the important point is that an accord has been reached. It must be hoped that both sides will learn something from this, and try to avoid any more unnecessary rows. The presence of President Jiang Zemin and Britain's Prime Minister, Tony Blair, at the handover ceremony should be an opportunity for putting aside past differences and forging a new relationship.
But any chance of achieving this will be jeopardised if there is further last-minute bickering.