TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 176

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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

wished at those of their meetings we attended. At the

same time we had to avoid trespassing, in any way, on

the proper preserves of the Commissioner and his staff.

We are grateful for the cooperative way in which they

gave us access to every aspect of their work, and to all

the material contributing to the Assessment Office report.

8.

We took care to ensure that our 'witness' function

should not be misunderstood. As our terms of reference

made clear, it was not for us either to "receive expressions

of public views" or to attempt in our report "to assess

public opinion" on the draft agreement. We were convinced,

however, that our attendance, as witnesses or observers,

at selected parts of the consultation process would enhance

the credibility of our role, particularly in the eyes

of Hong Kong; and that it would also help us to monitor

more effectively the work of the Assessment Office.

9.

way:

We discharged our audit functions in the following

(a)

As a first step we examined the organisation

of the Assessment Office and the instructions

to its staff, which we noted had been tested

in a practice run in the middle of September;

and we attended a presentation, arranged at

our request, of the procedures which the

Assessment Office planned to apply. We also