INSPIRED PQ ON WHITE PAPER
CONFIDENT I AL
Q: To ask the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, if he will make a
statement on the reports of the Assessment Office and independent
Monitoring Team submitted as part of the arrangements to test the
acceptability in Hong Kong of the draft agreement on the territory's
future.
A:
These reports have now been received by Her Majesty's Government. On 29 November a White Paper containing the reports
will be laid before the House and published. The report of the Assessment Office will provide an assessment of opinion in Hong Kong
on the draft agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the
Government of The People's Republic of China and on the
arrangements, for the future of Hong Kong which it sets out. The
report will
include factual summaries of all views expressed and an
overall assessment of the extent of acceptance by the people of Hong
Kong of the draft agreement.
The independent Monitors will state in their report whether they are
satisfied with the way the Assessment Office has discharged its
duties.
Copies of submissions to the Assessment Office will be placed in the
Library of the House with the consent of the organisations
concerned. Two volumes of evidence will be made available at the
same time as the publication of the White Paper. A further volume
will contain the evidence received by the Assessment Office towards
the end of the consultation period: this is still being translated.
It is hoped that this final volume will be placed in the Library of
the House before the debate on the draft agreement.
CONFIDENTIAL