TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 191

136

GRS 250

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 0512OCZ

FM HONG KONG 0590572 OCT 84

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 3134 OF 5 OCTOBER

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

MKK040A6 де

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

~ 9 OCT 1984

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

חי

так улескую

YOUR TELNO 2012 OF 3 OCTOBER: TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY : ASSESSMENT

OFFICE.

1. ABOUT 400 INDIVIDUALS HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE GIVING THEIR VIEWS ON THE AGREEMENT (THERE HAVE BEEN ANOTHER 100 COMMUNICATIONS FROM ORGANISATIONS AND THROUGH THE MEDIA). ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WHICH IS EMERGING FROM THE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES IS THAT ABOUT ONE THIRD COMMENT ON INDIVIDUAL ASPECTS OF THE AGREEMENT WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL ACCEPTS IT AS A WHOLE. THEY HAVE THEREFORE TO BE CLASSIFIED AS UNCLEAR ON THE ISSUE OF OVERALL ACCEPTABILITY.

2. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE NUMBER OF UNCLEAR SUBMISSIONS TO A MINIMUM THE COMMISSIONER HAS SUGGESTED THAT HE SHOULD INSERT IN THE PRESS A FURTHER SHORT ADVERTISEMENT. THE PROPOSED TEXT IS IN MY IFT. AN ADVERTISEMENT OF THIS KIND WOULD HAVE TWO ADVANTAGES. FIRST IT WILL BE A FURTHER DEMONSTRATION OF OUR EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO SEND IN COMMENTS. SECONDLY IT WOULD INDICATE MORE CLEARLY TO THOSE WHO WRITE IN THAT THEY SHOULD INDICATE THEIR VIEWS ON THE OVERALL ACCEPTABILITY AS WELL AS ON INDIVIDUAL ASPECTS.

3. CRITICS MIGHT CLAIM THAT AN ADVERTISEMENT OF THIS KIND MUST BE CONSTRUED AS FISHING FOR SUBMISSIONS APPROVING THE AGREEMENT. BUT THE NEW MOVE CAN I THINK BE DEFENDED HERE ON THE TWO COUNTS REFERRED TO ABOVE. YOU MAY NEVERTHELESS WISH TO CONSIDER HOW IT WOULD BE VIEWED IN PARLIAMENT BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER GOES AHEAD.

4. GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS DURING THE COURSE OF MONDAY 8 OCTOBER.

YOUDE

(REFEATED AS REQUESTED,

137

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE

SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195

CONFIDENTIAL