CUNFIDENTIAL
8
That experience gave us a direct, if impressionistic,
insight into reactions to the draft agreement which found
more formal expression in the many submissions we have
scrutinised from organisations and interest groups.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
11.
Before setting out our Conclusions we wish to
make two general observations about the conduct of the
assessment task.
12.
First, that task was unique. There had been
no previous and comparable experience in Hong Kong of
such a massive consultation and assessment exercise; and
the scope and terms of reference of the task had to be
settled before the outcome of the negotiations with the
Chinese Government could be known. The wisdom of hindsight
suggests that more should have been done to explain, as
well as to assert, the importance of consulting and assessing
the views of Hong Kong in circumstances in which a
traditionally reserved people, unused to involvment in
political matters, included many who were also disposed
to see little point in submitting their views on a draft
agreement which was not open to any amendment. But to
those who have chosen to call the consultation and assessment
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