:
CONFIDENTIAL
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
11.
Before setting out our Conclusions we wish to
make two general observations about the conduct of the
assessment task.
12.
First, there had been no previous experience
in Hong Kong of such a massive consultation and assessment
exercise
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of which the organisation and terms of reference
had to be settled before the final outcome of the negotiations
with the Chinese Government was known; and some difficulties
were to be expected. There has been some sharp public criticism
of the assessment task; and, in the light of it, we believe
that more should have been done earlier to explain, as well as
to assert, the importance of consulting and assessing the
views of Hong Kong. It was clearly evident that a people
traditionally reserved in political matters included many
who were also disposed to doubt the value of commenting
on the overall acceptability of a draft agreement which
was not open to any amendment. Nevertheless, to those
who have chosen to call the consultation and assessment
task "a charade" or "a farce" we wish to say that their
view was certainly not shared by the many Hong Kong people,
in different parts of the community, whom we were able to
hear discussing, with care and concern, the draft agreement
in all its aspects.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.