FROM PEKING 12105OZ JUN 34
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TE EGRAM NUMBER 1092 OF 12/6/84
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
FOLLOWING FROM GOVENOR
YOUR TEL NO 600 : FUTURE OF HONG KONG: ACCEPTIBILITY
TEST OF
1. ON (A)
с
YOUR TEL SUGGESTS THAT THE SECRETARY
OF STATE SEES DIFFICULTY BOTH ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT OFFICE, AND THE INDEPENDENT AUDIT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT ONLY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS THE RESOURCES
TO ORGANISE THE COLLECTION, TRANSLATION AND ASESSMENT OF VIEWS. FOR PRACTICAL REASONS IT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE BY A UNIT SET
UP FOR THE PURPOSE. IT CANNOT BE DONE WITHIN THE NORMAL MACHINERY
OF GOVERNMENT.
2. SECONDLY EVEN THOUGH THE ASSESSMENT MACHINERY WILL BE AT
A DISTANCE FROM THE ORDINARY MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT IT WILL, IF THERE IS NO INDEPENDENT ELEMENT, INEVITABLY BE OPEN TO ATTACK AS BIASED, BY THE CHINESE AND OTHERS IF THE TEST REJECTS THE AGREEMENT: AND BY OPPONENTS OF THE AGREEMENT AND CRITICS GENERALLY, IF!
IF IT GOES IN FAVOUR. WE HAVE THEREFORE ASSUMED THAT SOME INDENDENT AUDIT OF THE PROCESS WILL BE ESSENTIAL. THE PROPOSAL FOR THE INVOLVMENT OF THE JUDICIAL MEMBERS
(AND THEIR STAFF ) WAS THE MINIMUM WE THOUGHT NECESSARY TO REBUT ACCUSATION OF BIAS AND TO REASSURE PARLIAMENT.
PE
3. B ON THE TIMETABLE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FORESEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN SEPTEMBER. ON PRESENT FORM IT IS VERY MUCH OPEN TO QUESTION WHETHER AN AGREEMENT WHICH HMG COULD REASONABLY COMMEND WILL BE OBTAINABLE WITHOUT SOME VERY TOUGH BARGAINING RIGHT UP TO THE LAST MINUTE. CERTAINLY EXCO'S ENDOR- SEMENT OF AN AGREEMENT (IF OBTAINABLE AT ALL) WILL DEPEND ON THEIR BEING CONVINCED THAT WE HAVE GONE
IM
TO THE ABSOLUTE IT BOTH IN TERMS OF MINISTERIAL
INVOLVEMENT, AND IN USING ALL
THE TIME AVAILABLE TO US IN ORDER TO SQUEEZE EVERY
CONCESSION WE CAN OUT OF THE CHINESE BEFORE WE INITIAL.
4. HONG KONG MAY WISH TO COMMENT SEPARATELY.
EVANS
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