XN000022-1984-07-19 — Page 7

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1984

A)

(B)

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THEY WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO THE URBAN COUNCIL AND ALL DISTRICT BOARDS WITH AN INVITATION TO THESE BODIES TO MAKE KNOWN THEIR VIEWS:

COPIES WILL BE SENT TO SELECTED REPRESENTATIVE AND SEMI-REPRESENTATIVE BODIES (INCLUDING TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS, PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC BODIES AND OTHER GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS OF STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY) WITH AN INVITATION TO COMMENT

(C) THE DOCUMENTS WILL BE DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL;

흐트

(D)

THE DOCUMENTS WILL ALSO BE GIVEN WIDE PUBLICITY THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA. COPIES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN

GOVERNMENT OFFICES FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WHO WILL BE INVITED TO COMMENT}

REPRESENTATIVE BODIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL BE FREE TO

COMMENT ON ANY ASPECT OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT.

5.

6.

7.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN RESPONSE TO THE INVITATION FOR COMMENTS WILL NEED TO BE CAREFULLY ASSESSED AND PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT. THERE WILL ALSO BE INDIRECT EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION (E.G. EDITORIALS AND LETTERS TO NEWSPAPERS). THESE WILL CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED AND TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

TO THIS END, A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT OFFICE WILL BE SET UP, BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. IT WILL BE SEPARATE FROM THE ORDINARY MACHINERY OF THE GOVERNMENT, COMING UNDER THE CHARGE OF A SENIOR OFFICIAL AND REPORTING DIRECT TO THE GOVERNOR. IT WILL UNDERTAKE THE TASK OF COLLATING, SUMMARISING, ANALYSING AND ASSESSING EXPRESSIONS OF VIEW RECEIVED EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH OTHER PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY, AND OF PRODUCING A REPORT. THE REPORT DRAWN UP BY THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WILL INCLUDE FACTUAL SUMMARIES OF ALL THE VIEWS EXPRESSED, AND AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE EXTENT OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. THE REPORT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN HONG KONG.

IT IS ALSO PROPOSED THAT A SMALL INDEPENDENT TEAM SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO MONITOR THE WORK OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE. THE ROLE OF THE MONITORS' WILL BE TO ENSURE THAT THE ASSESSMENT IS CARRIED OUT PROPERLY, ACCURATELY AND IMPARTIALLY BY THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, AND THAT THE OFFICE HAS FOLLOWED THE PRESCRIBED PROCEDURES FAITHFULLY IN DRAWING UP A REPORT ON THE COMMENTS MADE. THE MONITORS' WILL NOT COLLECT OR ASSESS OPINION THEMSELVES. THEY WILL WITNESS DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE EXERCISE OF CONSULTATION, HAVE ACCESS TO THE MATERIAL ON WHICH THE ASSESSMENT REPORT WAS BASED AND PUBLISH THEIR FINDINGS AT THE SAME TIME AS THE ASSESSMENT REPORT. THE ASSESSMENT REPORT AND THE VIEWS OF THE MONITORS' ON WHETHER THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAS DISCHARGED ITS DUTIES WILL BE PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT IN A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.