TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 142

CONFIDENTIAL

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assessment of the extent of acceptance" of the

draft agreement.

(c)

We took the view that our role of observing,

over a period of two months, "the work of the

Assessment Office in all its aspects" should

enable us to judge whether it had discharged

all its duties impartially and had faithfully

followed its prescribed procedures.

THE MONITORING PROGRAMME

6.

In the light of this approach we set ourselves

a monitoring programme which would enable us, in effect,

to audit the day-to-day work of the Assessment Office.

In order to assist us in our monitoring role, we included

in the programme arrangements to witness (in the words

of our terms of reference) "aspects of the exercise of

consultation".

7.

We were conscious of the delicate character

of our 'audit' function. We had to keep in close touch

with the Commissioner and his colleagues in the Assessment

Office, so that we could scrutinise the material on which

they were working and also raise any questions that we