CONFIDENTIAL
2286
2
6.
THE REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT MONITORING TEAM WAS PRESENTED
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS BY
SIR PATRICK NAIRNE AND MR JUSTICE SIMON LI FOOK-SEAN ON 24
NOVEMBER.
7. THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE MONITORING TEAM WERE TO OBSERVE
THE WORK OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE AND TO REPORT INDEPENDENTLY OF
THE REPORT OF THE OFFICE, STATING WHETHER IT WAS SATISFIED THAT
THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAD PROPERLY, ACCURATELY AND IMPARTIALLY
DISCHARGED ITS DUTIES AND FAITHFULLY FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURES
PRESCRIBED IN ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE.
8. THE MONITORS AUDITED THE DAY TO DAY WORK OF THE ASSESSMENT
OFFICE. THEY WERE GIVEN FULL ACCESS TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE'S
WORK, RECEIVED ALL SUBMISSIONS ADDRESSED TO THE ASSESSMENT
OFFICE, AND ATTENDED SELECTED PARTS OF THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS.
WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT SINCE HONG KONG HAD NEVER BEFORE
EXPERIENCED SUCH A MASSIVE CONSULTATION AND ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
SOME DIFFICULTIES WERE TO BE EXPECTED, THE MONITORS JUDGE THAT
THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE STAFF FULFILLED THEIR FUNCTIONS
CONSCIENTIOUSLY AND WITH INTEGRITY.
9.
THE MONITORS STATE THEIR SATISFACTION THAT THE ASSESSMENT
OFFICE CARRIED OUT ITS TASK IMPARTIALLY, FAITHFULLY AND
ACCURATELY. THEY UNRESERVEDLY ENDORSE THE CONCLUSION OF THE
ASSESSMENT OFFICE THAT 'MOST OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FOUND THE
DRAFT AGREEMENT ACCEPTABLE', WHILE NOTING THAT THE OVERWHELMING
MESSAGE OF ACCEPTANCE IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN AGENDA' OF
RESERVATIONS, QUALIFICATIONS AND QUESTIONS.
ENDS
HOWE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/R LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE ER COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE
SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195
CONFIDENTIAL
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