4.
IT IS PRPOPOSED THAT A SURVEY OFFICE WITH A SEPARATE GROUP OF STAFF, HEADED BY A SENIOR CIVIL SERVANT, (ALL PREFERABLY BILINGUAL) SHOULD BE CREATED. THE OFFICE WOULD BE ACCOMMODATED SEPARATELY AND AWAY FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICES. FURTHER IT IS PROPOSED THAT TWO NON-GOVERNMENT HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD BE APPOINTED AS MONITORS. THEY SHOULD BE PEOPLE OF HIGH STANDING IN
THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY.
5.
THE MONITORS WOULD NOT INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN THE WORK OF THE SURVEY OFFICE ON AN EXECUTIVE BASIS, BUT WOULD HAVE DIRECT ACCESS IN THEIR DISCRETION TO SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED AND TO THE WORKING OF THE SURVEY OFFICE.
6.
PROPOSED TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE SURVEY OFFICE AND FOR
THE MONITORS FOLLOW IN PARAGRAPHS 13-14
7.
THE SURVEY OFFICE AND THE MONITORS WOULD BE CREATED AND APPOINTED BY DIRECTION OF THE GOVERNOR (ON THE ADVICE OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL): AND THE REPORT OF THE SURVEY OFFICE WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SURVEY OFFICE
8.
THERE ARE TWO PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES:
(A) TO OBTAIN A WIDE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THE GREEN PAPER: AND
(B) TO REPORT IMPARTIALLY AND ACCURATELY THE SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED AND THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THE GREEN PAPER.
9.
GREAT CARE WAS TAKEN IN THE 1984 ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT TO MAINTAIN THE IMPARTIALITY AND CREDIBILITY OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE BY ENSURING THAT IT DID NOT APPEAR IN ANY WAY TO BE INFLUENCING PUBLIC OPINION. THE GOVERNMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLISHING THE DRAFT AGREEMENT, PUBLICISING IT AND EXPLAINING IT TO THE PUBLIC. THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE DESCRIBED ITS APPROACH TOWARDS RECEIVING VIEWS ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT AS ESSENTIALLY PASSIVE''.
10.
IT IS VITAL IN THE 1987 REVIEW THAT PUBLIC OPINION BE EXPRESSED AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE, AND IN PARTICULAR THAT THE VIEWS OF THE SILENT MAJORITY'' ARE ELICITED. THE QUESTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS HAS ALREADY PRODUCED GROUPS WITH TOTALLY OPPOSED OPINIONS. BOTH THESE GROUPS WILL BE SUSPICIOUS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S MOTIVES IN ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING PUBLIC RESPONSE. THE PRC GOVERNMENT IS LIKELY TO ASSUME THAT THE ACTIVE SOLICITING OF PUBLIC OPINION IS BEING DONE WITH A VIEW TO BOLSTER ING THE CASE FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS. THE PROPOSED DIRECTION AT PARAGRAPH 14(B)(1) CHARGES THE SURVEY OFFICE WITH INVITING' GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS TO CONSIDER THE ISSUES AND TO FORWARD THEIR VIEWS IN WRITING.
11. THE PROPOSED DIRECTION AT PARAGRAPH 14(B) (2) CHARGES THE SURVEY OFFICE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS. IT WILL BE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO COMMISSION SUCH SURVEYS
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