1.9
THE INTENTION HAD BEEN THAT ONLY THE VIEWS SENT IN BY ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE PUBLISHED, PROVIDED THE ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED DID NOT OBJECT, AND THIS WAS STATED IN THE AVERTTISEMENTS. THAT NO MENTION WAS MADE IN THE FIRST ADVERTISEMENT OF THE VIEWS PUT IN BY INDIVIDUALS LED TO THE EXPRESSION OF SOME CONCERN THAT PERSONAL PARTICULARS MIGHT IN SOME WAY BE DISCLOSED. AS SOON AS THIS CONCERN WAS VOICED THE OFFICE MADE IT CLEAR, IN ANSWER TO PRESS QUERIES, THAT THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF PERSONAL PARTICULARS WOULD BE MAINTAINED. THIS WAS PUT BEYOND ANY POSSIBILITY OF DOUBT BY
THE SECOND ADVERTISEMENT.
1.10
(1) FOLLOWING THE EXPRESSION OF ANXIETY BY
LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS ABOUT THE FINAL DISPOSAL OF RECORDS, AND AFTER CONSULTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ISSUED A STATEMENT ON 14 OCTOBER TO THE EFFECT THAT SUBMISSIONS NOT ANNEXED TO THE REPORT OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WOULD BE KEPT UNDER SEAL IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE IN HONG KONG AND SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED AFTER THE RATIFICATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.
ON 1 OCTOBER IT WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT THE FINAL DATE FOR VIEWS TO BE SENT TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WOULD BE 15 NOVEMBER. THIS MEANT THAT THE PERIOD ALLOWED FOR THE EXPRESSION OF VIEWS ON THE DRAFT
AGREEMENT WAS JUST OVER SEVEN WEEKS.
MODUS OPERANDI
1.11
IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE, THE
OFFICE HAD TO ENSURE THAT
(A)
(B)
SUBMISSIONS MADE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THROUGH THE VARIOUS CHANNELS OF CONSULTATION AND THROUGH THE MEDIA, WERE CAREFULLY AND PROPERLY DOCUMENTED: AND
ALL SUBMISSIONS WERE COLLATED, ACCURATELY
SUMMARIZED AND ANALYSED, AND FACTUALLY
ASSESSED IN THE REPORT.
THUS, THE TASK OF THE OFFICE WAS ESSENTIALLY IN TWO PARTS : DOCUMENTATION, ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT.
1.12
A SERIES OF OFFICE INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF WAS DRAWN
UP IN SEPTEMBER AND WAS TESTED IN A PRACTICE RUN FROM 12 TO
18 SEPTEMBER SO THAT ALL STAFF FULLY UNDERSTOOD THE
PROCEDURES ADOPTED. PARTICULAR EMPHASIS WAS PLACED AT ALL
TIMES ON SECURITY.
(1) DOCUMENTATION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS
SECRET
/1.13