CONFIDENTIAL
DISAGREE A LOT (1 PERCENT): DON'T KNOW (10 PERCENT). SCMP ADDED UP THE PERCENTAGES OF THE FIRST TWO CATEGORIES AND GOT A FIGURE
OF 77 PERCENT (SEE CHART 35 OF SRH REPORT).
6. WHY NOT A REFERENDUM?
THE QUESTION OF A REFERENDUM WAS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED BUT IT WAS DECIDED IN THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HK, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO AVOID THE RISK OF PROVOKING FACTIONAL DIVISIONS OR DISTURBANCES WHICH COULD THEMSELVES LEAVE THE RESULTS OF A REFERENDUM OPEN TO REAL DOUBT. THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVED THAT A PROCESS OF CONSULTATION THROUGH THE WELL DEVELOPED CHANNELS FAMILIAR TO THE HK PEOPLE WAS THE BEST WAY TO PROVIDE THE FULL ASSESSMENT OF THE RANGE AND QUALITY OF OPINIONS ON THIS
COMPLEX MATTER.
7. SHOULD NOT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAVE TAKEN A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN SEEKING TO GATHER PUBLIC OPINION?
IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT IN HK WHICH TOOK THE ACTIVE ROLE OF DISSEMINATING AND EXPLAINING THE AGREEMENT, URGING THE
PUBLIC TO EXPRESS ITS VIEWS AND FORWARDING VIEWS RECEIVED IN DISTRICT OFFICES FROM GRASS ROOTS ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS.
THE ROLE OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WAS INDEPENDENT OF THIS.
IT WAS TASKED WITH COLLATING AND ASSESSING THESE VIEWS IN WHAT WAS
A UNIQUE OPINION GATHERING EXERCISE TO DEAL WITH A UNIQUE
SITUATION.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD DEP HD/PUSD
RES D.(MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
COPIES TO:( VIA ADR) MR ROBERTS
MR FIFOOT
MR BURROWS
NEWS DEPT
LEGAL ADVS. LEGAL ADVS
MR MARTIN ASST STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK NO.10 DOWNING ST. SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K 195 HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL