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INFORMATION
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RESTRICTED
DESKBY 18:500Z 182300K
FM FCO 18144NZ JUL 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1327 OF 18 JULY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
MIPT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG:
COMMS OFFICE REG. NO: D.T.R. 18 JULY 1984 2315 HMS
STATEMENTS TO PARLIAMENT
1. THE FOLLOWING IS THE FINAL TEXT OF QUESTION AND ANSWER.ON
TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY:-
B TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY
QUESTION
TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS WHAT ARRANGEMENTS ARE PROPOSED TO ASSESS THE ACCEPTABILITY TO
THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG OF ANY AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE
TERRITORY.
ANSWER:
AS WE HAVE OFTEN MADE CLEAR, WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO ASSESSING THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON ANY AGREEMENT WE MAY REACH WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY. I HAVE TODAY PLACED IN THE LIBRARY OF THE HOUSE DETAILS OF THE METHODS WE PROPOSE TO USE TO DO THIS. BRIEFLY WE ENVISAGE THAT THE AGREEMENT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN BOTH HONG KONG AND THE UK AND THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE INVITED TO COMMENT ON IT. A SPECIAL OFFICE WILL BE SET UP UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG WHICH WILL COLLATE AND ASSESS ALL VIEWS WHICH IT RECEIVES ON THE AGREEMENT AND PRODUCE A FINAL REPORT WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED. IT IS ALSO PROPOSED THAT A SMALL INDEPENDENT TEAM SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO MONITOR THE WORK OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE. THE TEAM WILL
,
CONFIRM IN ITS OWN REPORT, WHICH WILL ALSO BE PUBLISHED, WHETHER IT IS SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAS DISCHARGED
ITS DUTIES.
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THERE HAS BEEN
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