CONFIDENTIAL
9
task "a charade" or "a farce" we would wish to say that
their view was clearly not shared by the many Hong Kong
people in diverse parts of the community and, notably,
perhaps, round the tables of the District Board meetings ·
whom we were able to hear discussing, with care and concern,
the draft agreement in all its aspects.
13.
Secondly, the Assessment Office itself was unique.
While maintaining our independence, we have in effect
participated in its work by way of watching and listening
to its members as they discharged their novel functions.
We have also shared in their experience of the public
response to the draft agreement, and of the public comments,
some of them critical, about the consultation and assessment
tasks. We express in our Conclusions our considered judgments
on the discharge of their terms of reference; but we would
like to pay tribute here to the quality of the Assessment
Office staff, and to the integrity and conscientiousness
with which the Commissioner and all his colleagues have
done their job.
CONCLUSIONS
14.
As our observation in paragraph 13 implies,
we are fully satisfied that the Assessment Office has