GR$ 300
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVA
MKK040/46
<EGISTRY
10 OCT 1984
FM HONG KONG C51005Z OCT 54
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3136 OF 5 OCTOBER
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Action
JAK I GR 15/10
137) MY TELNO 3134: TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY : ASSESSMENT OFFICE
1. THE FOLLOWING QUESTION HAS BEEN PUT DOWN FOR ANSWER AT THE
LEGCO SITTING ON OCTOBER 10:
**WOULD GOVERNMENT STATE WHETHER ANY OF THE SIGNED
LETTERS SUBMITTED BY THE PUBLIC TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE BE
TREATED CONFIDENTIALLY AND DESTROYED AFTER ASSESSMENT?''
2. THIS QUESTION REFLECTS SOME CONCEPN HERE THAT PEOPLE MAY
BE INHIBITED FROM WRITING TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE PY A FEAR THAT
THEY WILL BE VICTIMISED AFTER 1997 IF THEY EXPRESS VIEWS CRITICAL
OF THE AGREEMENT NOW.
3. WE PROPOSE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ON THE GENERAL LINES THAT
(A) ALL SUBMISSIONS MADE TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WILL BE FORWARDED
IN ORIGINAL TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN LONDON AND NO COPIES WILL
BE KEPT HERE:
(B) THAT THE NAMES OR ADDRESSESS OF INDIVIDUALS WILL NOT APPEAR
IN THE ASSESSMENT COMMISSIONER'S PEPORT, OR BE OTHERWISE DISCLOSED:
BUT
(C) THE SUBMISSION BY MAJOR ORGANISATIONS, IDENTIFIED AS
EMANATING FROM THOSE ORGANISATIONS, WILL BE ATTACHED AS
APPENDICES TO THE COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
4. COULD WE ALSO SAY THAT IT WOULD BE YOUR INTENTION TO DESTROY
INDIVIDUAL SUBMISSIONS AFTR PARLIAMENT HAS APPROVED THE AGREEMENT
AND NOT LEAVE THEM TO BE PLACED IN THE PUBLIC PECORD OFFICE IN 30
YEARS TIME?
5. THIS SEEMS TO US TO BE THE PROCEDURE BEST DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN
CONFIDENTIALITY AS REGARDS INDIVIDUALS WHILE DIRECTLY PRODUCING A
REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF OPINION TO GIVE THE REPORT AUTHENTICITY.
CONFIDENTIAL
16.
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