TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 177

GPS350

SECRET

HONG KONG

FM

101155Z OCT 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

SECRET

Rederv

необере

... :

10 OCT 1984

TELEGRAM NUMBER 3174 OF 010 OCTOBER

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3)

IND

STRY

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YOUR TELNO 3153 : TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY :

ASSESSMENT OFFICE

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AS YOU WILL SEE FROM THE VERBATIM REPORT TO BE SENT TO YOU TOMORROW, THE EXCHANGE IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON ON THE QUESTION PUT BY MR. K.C. CHAN INDICATED THAT MEMBERS WERE VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE LINE THE SHA HAD TO TAKE. THEY CONFIRMED THEIR UNEASE TO ME DURING A MEETING OF FINANCE COMMITTEE AFTERWARDS. I ANTICIPATE CRITICAL MEDIA REPORTS TONIGHT

AND TOMORROW.

2. IN SUMMARY THEIR CONCERNS ARE :

(1) THAT THE REQUIREMENT FOR IDENTIFICATION OF THOSE WRITING TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE AND THE PRESERVATION OF THEIR LETTERS WILL DETER THOSE MOST CRITICAL OF THE AGREEMENT AND CHINESE GOOD FAITH FROM WRITING IN AND WILL, THEREFORE, INVALIDATE THE TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY EXERCISE:

(11) THAT THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE TO INSIST UPON WRITERS IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES BECAUSE FOLLOWING TWO WORDS UNDERLINED BONA FIDE VIEWS MUST ALL BE RELEVANT TO THE TEST OF

ACCEPTABILITY EXERCISE:

(111) THAT A REQUEST BY WRITERS FOR ANONYMITY (OR EVEN DESTRUCTION AFTER READING AND NOTING) SHOULD BE COMPLIED WITH BY THE ASSESSMENT

OFFICE:

(IV) THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO PRESERVE THE SUBMISSIONS (AND STILL LESS THE IDENTITY OF THE WRITERS) AFTER PARLIAMENT HAS DEBATED

THE WHITE PAPER:

(V) THAT THE MATERIAL ON WHICH THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE REPORT IS BASED (OTHER THAN THAT ANNEXED TO THE REPORT ITSELF) SHOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR PERUSAL IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY IF THERE WAS ANY RISK OF THE PUBLIC HAVING ACCESS TO THE MATERIAL:

(VI) THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE SUPPORTING MATERIAL IN 30 YEARS TIME FOLLOWING WORD UNDERLINED VIA THE PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE FOR SOME WOULD FEEL UNEASY EVEN

THAT FAR AHEAD.

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