WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1984
8
+MUCH HAS BEEN SAID IN THIS DEBATE ABOUT THE WISHES OF THE SILENT MAJORITY. IF THEY REALLY WISH TO REMAIN SILENT THAT IS THEIR PREROGATIVE. THE GOVERNMENT WILL, AS I HOPE I HAVE SHOWN, GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE T EXPRESS VIEWS. BEYOND THIS IT CANNOT GO. PEOPLE MUST EXPRESS
'EWS THEMSELVES. IF THEY HESITATE TO EXPRESS VIEWS IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT THEY ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO DO SO TO PEOPLE THEY KNOW IN THE IR MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE, THE IR RESIDENT'S ASSOCIATION, THE IR TRADE ASSOCIATION, THE IR DISTRICT BOARD, THEIR TRADE UNION AND SO FORTH RATHER THAN MAKE USE OF THE UNFAMILIAR BALLOT BOX. BODIES SUCH AS THE URBAN COUNCIL WARD OFFICES AND, INDEED, THE UMELCO OFF ICE ITSELF ARE CHANNELS WELL KNOWN AND WELL USED BY MANY. VIEWS CAN ALSO BE MADE KNOWN DIRECTLY TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE.
+THE COLLATION OF VIEWS WILL 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.
+ON PUBLICATION OF THIS AGREEMENT THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO ITS PART. IT WILL ENSURE THAT THE CONTENTS OF THE AGREEMENT ARE WIDELY KNOWN AND IT WILL CREATE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THE IR VIEWS. ONLY THE PEOPLE CAN EXPRESS THE IR VIEWS. IT IS UP TO THEM TO DO SO. THEREAFTER A CAREFUL AND IMPARTIAL ASSESSMENT WILL BE PREPARED AND PUBLISHED FOR ALL TO SEE.+
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE
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THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAS BEEN SET UP UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG. IT IS SEPARATE FROM THE ORDINARY MACHINERY OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND IS UNDER THE CHARGE OF A SENIOR OFFICIAL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE COMMISSIONER, ASSESSMENT OFFICE, WHO WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNOR.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE IS TO PROVIDE HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AND PARLIAMENT, THROUGH THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, WITH AN ACCURATE ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF OPINION IN HONG KONG ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT, AND ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WHICH IT WILL SET OUT.
TO THIS END THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE SHALL BE AS FOLLOWS: AFTER PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION IN HONG KONG BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OF A WHITE PAPER CONTAINING THE DRAFT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT, AND OF AN INVITATION TO COMMENT ON ITS CONTENTS, THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WILL:
(A) RECEIVE