TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 154

ADVANCE COPIES

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

DR WILSON

HD/ HKD

HD/ FED

KESIDENT CLERK

12

SIR P CRADOCK

MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

00 FCO

GPS100

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 1207557 OCT 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

IMMEDIATE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 3190 OF 012 OCTOBER

YOUR TELNO 2051: TEST OF ACCEPTAPILITY: ASSESSMENT OFFICE

I HAVE NOW DISCUSSED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE (WHO HAS ALSO, INFORMALLY, TAKEN SOUNDINGS OF THE MONITORING TEAM).

2. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE CAC HAS NO DIFFICULTY IN DISTINCUISHING BETWEEN MAIN SUBMISSIONS AND OTHER

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SUBMISSIONS'' AND GIVEN THAT ONLY TRAIN SURMISSIONS' ARE TO BE PUBLISHED WITH THE REPORT (WITH THE IMPLICIT CONCURRENCE OF THE AUTHORS), I AGREE THE BEST COURSE TO ADOPT WOULD BE TO RETAIN ALL OTHER MATERIAL IN HONG KONG FOR SURSEQUENT DISPOSAL NOW THAT THIS COURSE APPEARS TO PE LEGALLY ACCEPTABLE. THIS MATERIAL COULD BE PLACED IN THE SAFECARE OF OUR PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE, IN SEALED BOXES, UNTIL RATIFICATION AND THEN BE DESTROYED.

3. I HOPE A FIRM DECISION ON WHAT TO DO CAN BE TAKEN BEFORE, SAY, NEXT TUESDAY AFTERNOON BECAUSE, IF WE ARE TO BACKTRACK ON SOME OF THE RESPONSES MADE IN REPLY TO MR. CHAY'S QUESTION IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS WEEK, THERE WOULD BE ADVANTAGE IN DOING SO DURING THE UPCOMING DEBATE ON THE MOTION COMMENDING THE AGREEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THIS DEPATE, AS YOU KNOW, IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY (15 AND 16 OCTOBER).

HADDON-CAVE