GPS450
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKEY 08103OZ
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 08095OZ OCT 84
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3153 OF 08 OCTOBER
VIKK040/46.
GISTRY
· 9 OCT 1984
TOP C Top
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
131
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
та
YOUR TELNO 2021 : TEXT OF ACCEPTABILITY : ASSESSMENT OFFICE
OUR PROPOSED ANSWER TO THE LECCO QUESTION CONTAINED IN OUR
TELNO 3136 IS AS FOLLOWS :
I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE ASSESSMENT
OFFICE THAT THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WRITE TO
THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED OR DISCLOSED, ALTHOUGH
THE CONTENTS OF SUCH LETTERS WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE
ASSESSMENT. IT IS THE COMMISSIONER'S INTENTION TO PUBLISH THE
TEXT OF SUBMISSIONS FROM MAIN ORGANISATIONS AS ANNEXES TO THE
ASSESSMENT REPORT UNLESS THEY SPECIFICALLY REQUEST OTHERWISE.
2. THE ASSESSMENT REPORT TOGETHER WITH ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
WILL BE SUBMITTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
THE COMMISSIONER OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAS CONFIRMED THAT
NO RECORDS WILL BE KEPT IN THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE.''
2. NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS ARE GIVEN BELOW :
QUESTION 1: WOULD THE SECRETARY OF STATE DESTROY THE PAPERS AFTER
PARLIAMENT HAS RATIFIED THE AGREEMENT?
ANSWER
: ANY PAPER SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD
FALL TO BE DEALT WITH UNDER SECTION 5(1) OF THE PUBLIC
RECORDS ACT OF 1958, AS AMENDED BY THE ACT OF 1967,
WHICH PROVIDES ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST THE
PREMATURE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION RECEIVED IN
CONFIDENCE.
QUESTION 2: WHAT ARE THE SAFE-GUARDS?
ANSWER
: BASICALLY, THE PUBLIC MAY HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC
RECORDS IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE ONLY AFTER THE
EXPIRATION OF 30 YEARS AFTER THEY ARE CREATED.
THIS PERIOD MAY BE LENGTHENED OR SHORTENED BY THE
LORD CHANCELLOR IN RESPECT OF ANY PARTICULAR
CLASS OF PUBLIC RECORDS. WHERE ANY RECORDS CONTAINING
INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS THAT THEIR OPENING TO THE PUBLIC WOULD OR MIGHT CONSTITUTE A BREACH OF GOOD FAITH ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT OR THE PERSONS WHO OBTAINED THE INFORMATION, PUBLIC ACCESS TO THESE RECORDS MAY BE BARRED FOR AS LONG AS NECESSARY AND
APPROPRIATE WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE LORD CHANCELLOR.
CONFIDENTIAL
/QUESTION 1.