XN000022-1984-07-19 — Page 5

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1984

PLAN FOR ASSESSING VIEWS

****

IN THE BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, WAS ASKED WHAT ARRANGEMENTS WERE PROPOSED TO ASSESS THE ACCEPTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG OF ANY AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY.

QUESTION.

TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FORE ICN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS WHAT ARRANGEMENTS ARE PROPOSED TO ASSESS THE ACCEPTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG OF ANY AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY.

ANSWER

AS WE HAVE OFTEN MADE CLEAR, WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO ASSESSING THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON ANY AGREEMENT WE MAY REACH WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY. I HAVE TODAY, PLACED IN THE LIBRARY OF THE HOUSE DETAILS OF THE METHODS WE PROPOSE TO USE TO DO THIS. BRIEFLY WE ENVISAGE THAT THE AGREEMENT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN BOTH HONG KONG AND THE UK AND THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE INVITED TO COMMENT ON IT. A SPECIAL OFFICE WILL BE SET UP UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG WHICH WILL COLLATE AND ASSESS ALL VIEWS WHICH IT RECEIVES ON THE AGREEMENT AND PRODUCE A FINAL REPORT WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED. IT IS ALSO PROPOSED THAT A SMALL INDEPENDENT TEAM SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO MONITOR THE WORK OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE. THE TEAM WILL CONFIRM IN ITS OWN REPORT, WHICH WILL ALSO BE PUBLISHED, WHETHER IT IS SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAS DISCHARGED ITS DUTIES.

THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION RECENTLY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF USING A REFERENDUM TO ASSESS THE ACCEPTABILITY OF AN AGREEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. IN THE VIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT THIS WOULD HAVE VERY REAL DRAWBACKS. IN THE SPECIAL POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG, IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVOID THE RISK OF PROVOKING FACTIONAL DIVISIONS OR DISTURBANCES WHICH COULD THEMSELVES LEAVE THE RESULT OF A REFERENDUM OPEN TO REAL DOUBT. MOREOVER,

MOREOVER, THERE ARE PRACTICAL OBJECTIONS RELATED TO THE LOW RATES OF REGISTRATION IN HONG KONG SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF UNIVERSAL FRANCHISE IN 1982. THE GOVERNMENT FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT A PROCESS OF CONSULTATION THROUGH THE WELL-DEVELOPED CHANNELS FAMILIAR TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO PROVIDE THE FULL ASSESSMENT OF THE RANGE AND QUALITY OF OPINION ON THIS COMPLEX ISSUE WHICH I BELIEVE PARLIAMENT WOULD EXPECT AS A BASIS FOR ITS OWN DELIBERATIONS.

15