TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 133

CONFIDENTIAL

GRS 200

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 180125Z OCT 84

TO PRIORITY F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 3240 OF 18 OCTOBER

ASSESSMENT OFFICE : PUBLICITY

TO

•HKK 040/46

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 8 OCT 1984

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

таксин

P-

Actum.aken

1. THERE IS A CONTINUING CURRENT OF CRITICISM HERE THAT THE WORK OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE IS A WASTE OF TIME. WHILE WE CAN COUNTER LOCAL CRITICISM AS IT ARISES, CRITICISM OF MPS VISITING HONG KONG PRESENTS A MORE DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

2. THE ANSWER IS TO GET IT MORE WIDELY UNDERSTOOD THAT PARLIAMENT WILL REQUIRE AND RESPECT AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ACCEPTABILITY OF THE AGREEMENT. FOR THIS PURPOSE I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF YOU COULD ARRANGE FOR A FURTHER STATEMENT TO BE MADE, PREFERABLY AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL, EMPHASISING THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE ATTACHED IN LONDON TO THE ASSESSMENT EXERCISE AS A WHOLE, AS WELL AS THE INTEGRITY OF BOTH THE COMMISSION AND THE MONITORS.

3. AN INSPIRED P.Q. MIGHT PROVIDE ONE WAY OF GETTING THE POINT ON

THE RECORD AGAIN.

YOUDE

MINIMAL

HKD

CONFIDENTIAL

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