TNAG-1329-FCO40-1756-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 152

(A) AN ACCOUNT OF THE BACKGROUND TO THE NEGOTIATIONS LEADING UP TO THE DRAFT AGREEMENT AND

(B) A EXPLANATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS.

THE WHITE PAPER WILL BE FORMALLY INTRODUCED BY GOVERNOR IN THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN HONG KONG. IT WILL SUBSEQUENTLY BE

INTRODUCED BY A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT AS SOON AS PARLIAMENT RECONVENES

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4. IT IS PROPOSED THAT, IN HONG KONG, THE WHITE PAPER AND THE TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S STATEMENT TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

SHOULD BE HANDLED AS FOLLOWS:

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(4) 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:

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

(C) THE DOCUMENTS WILL BE DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: (D) THE DOCUMENTS WILL ALSO BE GIVEN WIDE PUBLICITY THROUGH THE

MASS MEDIA. COPIES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN ALL 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.

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5. 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

(EG EDITORIALS AND LETTERS TO NEWSPAPERS). THESE WILL CONTINUE

TO BE MONITORED AND TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

6. 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

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PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY

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