TNAG-1329-FCO40-1756-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 163

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GRS 1150

SECRET

FM HONG KONG 28044OZ JUL 84

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 734 OF 28 JULY

INFO PRIORITY F C O

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM HADDON-CAVE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY

TOP COPY

540/40

MKKO 40/46

31 JUL 1984

No

! en

THE PRESENT STATE OF PLAY ON THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE AND MONITORING

TEAM IS AS FOLLOWS :

A. DRAFT TERMS OF REFERENCE INCORPORATING COMMENTS OF AG'S CHAMBERS

NOW READ AS FOLLOWS.

ASSESSMENT OFFICE

THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAS BEEN SET UP UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG. THE HEAD OF THE OFFICE WILL BE KNOWN AS THE COMMISSIONER, ASSESSMENT OFFICE, AND HE WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNOR, I AM ADVISED THAT THE CHINESE TRANSLATION OF THE WORD ''ASSESSMENT' WILL NEED TO BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED.

2. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE OFFICE ARE :

(A) TO ASCERTAIN, FROM VIEWS EXPRESSED TO IT BY THE HONG KONG PEOPLE, WHETHER OR NOT THE INITIALLED AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IS

ACCEPTABLE TO THEM: AND

(B) TO PROVIDE HER MAJESTY'S UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT AND PARLIAMENT, THROUGH THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, WITH AN ACCURATE ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF OPINION IN HONG KONG ON THE

INITIALLED AGREEMENT.

3. TO THIS END THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE SHALL BE AS FOLLOWS: AFTER PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION IN HONG KONG BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OF A UNITED KINGDOM WHITE PAPER CONTAINING THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT, AND OF AN INVITATION TO COMMENT ON ITS CONTENTS, THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WILL:

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