136
GRS 250
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 0512OCZ
FM HONG KONG 0590572 OCT 84
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3134 OF 5 OCTOBER
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
MKK040A6 де
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
~ 9 OCT 1984
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
חי
так улескую
YOUR TELNO 2012 OF 3 OCTOBER: TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY : ASSESSMENT
OFFICE.
1. ABOUT 400 INDIVIDUALS HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE GIVING THEIR VIEWS ON THE AGREEMENT (THERE HAVE BEEN ANOTHER 100 COMMUNICATIONS FROM ORGANISATIONS AND THROUGH THE MEDIA). ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WHICH IS EMERGING FROM THE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES IS THAT ABOUT ONE THIRD COMMENT ON INDIVIDUAL ASPECTS OF THE AGREEMENT WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL ACCEPTS IT AS A WHOLE. THEY HAVE THEREFORE TO BE CLASSIFIED AS UNCLEAR ON THE ISSUE OF OVERALL ACCEPTABILITY.
2. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE NUMBER OF UNCLEAR SUBMISSIONS TO A MINIMUM THE COMMISSIONER HAS SUGGESTED THAT HE SHOULD INSERT IN THE PRESS A FURTHER SHORT ADVERTISEMENT. THE PROPOSED TEXT IS IN MY IFT. AN ADVERTISEMENT OF THIS KIND WOULD HAVE TWO ADVANTAGES. FIRST IT WILL BE A FURTHER DEMONSTRATION OF OUR EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO SEND IN COMMENTS. SECONDLY IT WOULD INDICATE MORE CLEARLY TO THOSE WHO WRITE IN THAT THEY SHOULD INDICATE THEIR VIEWS ON THE OVERALL ACCEPTABILITY AS WELL AS ON INDIVIDUAL ASPECTS.
3. CRITICS MIGHT CLAIM THAT AN ADVERTISEMENT OF THIS KIND MUST BE CONSTRUED AS FISHING FOR SUBMISSIONS APPROVING THE AGREEMENT. BUT THE NEW MOVE CAN I THINK BE DEFENDED HERE ON THE TWO COUNTS REFERRED TO ABOVE. YOU MAY NEVERTHELESS WISH TO CONSIDER HOW IT WOULD BE VIEWED IN PARLIAMENT BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER GOES AHEAD.
4. GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS DURING THE COURSE OF MONDAY 8 OCTOBER.
YOUDE
(REFEATED AS REQUESTED,
137
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
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