TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 146

CONFIDENTIAL

8

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

-

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.

criticism of the value of the assessment task, to which

the Assessment Office itself could not reply; and, in

the light of it, we believe that more should have been

done earlier at the political level to explain, as well

as to assert, the importance of consulting and assessing

the views of Hong Kong on the draft agreement in all its

aspects. 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

Nevertheless, to those who have chosen

There has been some sharp public

any amendment.

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 as a whole and all its

contents.