XN000022-1984-08-08 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1984

+WHEN THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAS COMPLETED ITS WORK, IT WILL BE REQUIRED BY A GIVEN DATE TO REPORT IN WRITING TO THE GOVERNOR UPON THE VIEWS IT HAS RECEIVED. THIS WILL NOT CONSIST OF A SHORT STATEMENT OF THE ATTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT. RATHER IT WILL GATHER THE EXPRESSIONS OF VIEWS IN A FORM THAT CAN READILY BE ASSIMILATED BY THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN LONDON TO WHOM IT WILL BE PRESENTED BY MINISTERS AND WHO WILL FORM THEIR OWN VIEW UPON THE ACCEPTABILITY OF THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS.

+ IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH BEYOND ANY DOUBT THE IMPARTIALITY OF THE WORK OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE. IT IS PROPOSED THAT A MONITORING TEAM SHOULD BE APPOINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE. THIS IS LIKELY TO CONSIST OF TWO MONITORS, ONE A DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC FIGURE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM

IT IS AND THE OTHER A DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC FIGURE IN HONG KONG. NOT THOUGHT THAT A THIRD MEMBER FROM SOME OTHER COUNTRY AS SUGGESTED BY MR YEUNG PO KWAN IS NECESSARY. THE IR TASK WILL BE TO OBSERVE THE WORK OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE IN ALL ITS ASPECTS. IT WILL SUBMIT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ITS OWN REPORT INDEPENDENTLY OF THE REPORT OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, STATING WHETHER IT IS SATISFIED THAT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAS PROPERLY, ACCURATELY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGED ITS DUTIES AND FAITHFULLY FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURES PRESENTED IN ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE. THIS REPORT TOO WILL BE PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT BY MINISTERS.

+THE MONITORS WILL NOT COLLECT OR ASSESS OPINION THEMSELVES. THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ALL MATERIAL USED IN THE ASSESSMENT AND BE FREE TO WITNESS SUCH ASPECTS OF THE EXERCISE OF CONSULTATION

AGAIN AND OF THE WORK OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE AS THEY MAY WISH. WITH YOUR HONOUR'S CONSENT I PROPOSE THAT THE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE MONITORING TEAM BE INCLUDED IN THE RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THIS COUNCIL AS THESE TOO HAVE JUST BEEN APPROVED.

+THESE METHODS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT THEY WILL GIVE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE IR VIEWS KNOWN THAN ANY OF THE MORE MECHANICAL WAYS OF REFERENDUM OR SURVEY. THE ASSESSMENT OF OPINION CAN NEVER BE MECHANICAL. THE RESULTS OF ANY SURVEY OR REFERENDUM ALTHOUGH PRESENTED IN A TIDY STATISTICAL FORM ARE BOUND TO BE OPEN TO QUESTION. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED BY MISS DUNN, MR BROWN AND MR PETER WONG THAT IF THE REPORT OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE IS INCONCLUSIVE A REFERENDUM COULD BE CONSIDERED. I AM AFRAID THIS WOULD NOT HELP. A REFERENDUM COULD NOT BE CONDUCTED FOR MONTHS FOR FIRST IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY

TWO THIRDS OF TO REGISTER THOSE NOT ON THE ELECTORAL ROLL. THOSE ELIGIBLE NOW ARE NOT REGISTERED AND THERE IS NO KNOWING HOW MANY WOULD REGISTER. IN THE INTERVENING PERIOD FACTIONAL DISPUTE WOULD BE CERTAIN TO DEVELOP. AT THE END OF THE DAY NOBODY COULD BE CONFIDENT WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD MEAN, DIVIDED AS IT WOULD BE BETWEEN +YES+, +NO+, +DON'T KNOW+, DID NOT VOTE, AND DID NOT REGISTER TO VOTE.

/+MUCH HAS ...