WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1984
2
+BUT IT WILL NOT REACH OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO OBTAIN OR SOLICIT THEM, + HE SAID.
THE OFFICE WOULD BE MANNED BY EXPERIENCED CIVIL SERVANTS AND ITS HEAD WOULD REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNOR.
WHEN THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAD COMPLETED ITS VIEWS, IT WOULD BE REQUIRED BY A GIVEN DATE TO REPORT IN WRITING TO THE GOVERNOR UPON THE VIEWS IT HAD RECEIVED, MR BRAY SAID.
THESE VIEWS WOULD BE IN A FORM THAT COULD READILY BE ASSIMILATED BY THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN LONDON TO WHOM IT WOULD BE PRESENTED BY MINISTERS.
THE COLLATION OF THE VIEWS WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IN A WAY NO REFERENDUM COULD BE.
+THE METHODS PROPOSED WILL MAKE POSSIBLE NOT ONLY AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ACCEPTABILITY OF THE AGREEMENT BUT WILL ALSO POINT TO AREAS WHICH CAUSE CONCERN.
+ALTHOUGH THE AGREEMENT ITSELF WILL NOT BE OPEN TO AMENDMENT THESE CONCERNS WILL PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE FUTURE,+ MR BRAY SAID.
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS'S
SPEECH:
+1 AM GRATEFUL TO MISS DUNN FOR GIVING THIS COUNCIL A CHANCE TO DEBATE THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT. THE OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION WHICH SHE HAS SO ABLY ARGUED WITH THE SUPPORT OF OTHER MEMBERS. I THOUGHT MR SO'S PARABLE OF THE ANXIOUS GARMENT BUYER PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR THE WORLD'S LARGEST GARMENT EXPORTING TERRITORY.
+AS HONG KONG MOVES TOWARDS A CRUCIAL DECISION ON ITS FUTURE IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT WE DO SO WITH SOME TREPIDATION. SOMETIME LATER THIS YEAR WE EXPECT TO SEE THE PUBLICATION OF AN INITIALLED AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINA ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. HMG HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT IS SEEKING AN AGREEMENT THAT IS ALSO ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THE AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE SIGNED UNTIL PARLIAMENT HAS AGREED AND BEFORE THEY TAKE A DECISION PARLIAMENT WILL WISH TO KNOW WHETHER THE AGREEMENT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
+ IT IS TO ASSIST PARLIAMENT TO COME TO A CONCLUSION ON THIS MATTER THAT SPECIAL MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN IN HONG KONG BETWEEN THE PUBLICATION OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE DECIDING DEBATE IN
PARLIAMENT.
/+TO THOSE