TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 344

GRS 1100

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 03075OZ SEP 84

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER NUMBER 2618 OF 3 SEPTEMBER

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

71

NIKK040/46

4SER 1934

FUTURE OF HONG KONG : ADMINISTRATION : TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY.

MIPT

To

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.

IT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AS

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 18

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,

TRY

Sa Taken