TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 295

GRS 1100

CONFIDENTIAL

OUTLINE OF PROCEDURE

ASSESSMENT OFFICE

OF

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 03075OZ SEP 84

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER NUMBER 2618 OF 3 SEPTEMBER

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

FUTURE OF HONG KONG : ADMINISTRATION : TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY.

MIPT.

FOLLOWING IS OUTLINE OF PROCEDURE OF ASSESSMENT OFFICE.

BEGINS:-

GENERAL APPROACH

1. IN ORDER TO BE AS OBJECTIVE AND IMPARTIAL AS POSSIBLE, THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WILL ADOPT A PASSIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS ITS TASK.

AS IT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, OPPOSED TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, TO PUBLISH, PUBLICISE AND EXPLAIN THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. FURTHERMORE, IT WILL BE THE TASK OF THE GOVERNMENT, NOT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, TO STIMULATE ARGUMENT ON AND DISCUSSION OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT AND TO MAKE ANY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO FACILITATE THE EXPRESSION OF VIEWS IN HONG KONG. THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WILL NOT GO OUT TO CANVASS PUBLIC OPINION, NOR WILL IT ESTABLISH SUB-OFFICES FOR THE COLLECTION OF VIEWS.

2. THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE STATE THAT VIEWS ARE TO BE EXPRESSED IN WRITING, EITHER DIRECTLY TO THE OFFICE, OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH WELL-ESTABLISHED AND FAMILIAR CONSULTATIVE CHANNELS IN HONG KONG. THE GOVERNMENT WILL THEREFORE ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS IN WRITING DIRECTLY TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, AND IT WILL BE MADE CLEAR THAT THE OFFICE WILL NOT WISH TO RECEIVE VERBAL OPINIONS OVER THE TELEPHONE OR FROM INDIVIDUALS IN PERSON. THOSE WHO DO NOT WISH TO OR ARE UNABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS IN WRITING WILL BE ADVISED TO MAKE THEM KNOWN THROUGH REPRESENTATIVE BODIES SUCH AS UMELCO, DISTRICT BOARDS, OR OTHER ASSOCIATIONS TO WHICH THEY BELONG OR HAVE ACCESS, OR TO ONE OF THE 13 DISTRICT OFFICES. VIEWS THUS EXPRESSED WILL BE PASSED TO THE

ASSESSMENT OFFICE.

3. THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WILL NOT CARRY OUT OR COMMISSION PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS, ALTHOUGH IT WILL TAKE NOTE OF THE FINDINGS OF SUCH SURVEYS CARRIED OUT BY OTHERS IF THESE ARE

SENT TO IT OR PUBLICISED.

4. IT IS THE INTENTION THAT THE MAIN SUBMISSIONS TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE SHOULD FORM PART OF THE PUBLISHED REPORT OF THE OFFICE, PROBABLY AS ANNEXES TO THE REPORT. IT FOLLOWS THAT SUBMISSIONS TO THE OFFICE WILL NOT NORMALLY BE TREATED AS CONFIDENTIAL. IT WILL, HOWEVER, BE NECESSARY TO MAKE

CONFIDENTIAL

/ ARRANGEMENTS.

A

16