:
CONFIDENTIAL
040/46
CONFIDENTIAL RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
100CT 1934
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Так
(GAR 159/10
150
FM HONG KONG 110545Z OCT 84
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3179 OF 11 OCTOBER
14MIPT: TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY : ASSESSMENT OFFICE.
AS ACTING GOVERNOR, I HAVE ARRANGED TO SEE THE COMMISSIONER OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE TOMORROW (FRIDAY) MORNING. WHEREAS AN EXCESSIVE EMPHASIS ON CONFIDENTIALITY COULD BE INTERPRETED AS A LACK OF FAITH IN CHINESE GOODWILL, FOR US NOT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE AN UNEQUIVOCAL ASSURANCE THAT WRITERS OF CRITICAL SUBMISSIONS HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR (E.E. THAT NON-DISCLOSURE IS GURANTEED) IS INDEFENSIBLE. THIS, QUITE APART FROM THE POSSIBILITY THAT, IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH AN ASSURANCE, RELATIVELY FEW CRITICAL
WITH UNFORTUNATE SUBMISSIONS MAY, IN THE EVENT, BE SENT IN, CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CREDIBILITY OF THE TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY.
2. WOULD THIS BE AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION? WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF THE MONITORING TEAM THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF THE WRITERS ARE EXPUNGED FROM THE SUBMISSIONS IN THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE BEFORE THEY ARE FORWARDED TO YOU BY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE REPORT. IF NOT, IS THERE ANY WAY IN WHICH THE SECRETARY OF STATE COULD GIVE AN UNDERTAKING THAT NAMES WILL NOT BE DISCLOSED, EVEN IF SPECIAL LEGISLATION WAS REQUIRED?
HADDON-CAVE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND MR. BOYD.
COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
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 K195
CONFIDENTIAL