TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 267

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HKK 040/16

CEIVED IN REGISTR

2 & NOV 1984

DESK OFFICER INDEX

SUMMARY OF WHITE PAPER ON "ARRANGEMENTS FOR TESTING THE

ACCEPTABILITY IN HONG KONG OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF

THE TERRITORY"

1.

The White Paper comprises:

(a) The report of the Assessment Office established on 1 September 1984 to assess the acceptability in Hong Kong of the draft

Sino-British agreement on the future of Hong Kong; and

(b) The report of the independent Monitoring Team appointed to

monitor the work of the Assessment Office.

ASSESSMENT OFFICE REPORT

2. The report of the Assessment Office was presented to the

Governor of Hong Kong on 23 November.

3. The terms of reference of the Assessment Office were to provide

the Governor with an accurate analysis and assessment of opinion in

Hong Kong on the draft agreement and on the arrangements for the

future of the territory as set out in it. 2.7 million copies of the

White Paper containing the agreement were circulated in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government inserted advertisements in the local press encouraging people to express their views on the agreement to the

Assessment Office. The Assessment Office took into account views expressed in the Legislative, Executive and Urban Councils, and the 18 District Boards consisting of elected and appointed members.

I t

received 679 submissions from organisations, and 1815 from

individuals. It took into account the results of 23 opinion survyes

of varying sizes, and 273 reports of discussions, debates, seminars, public speeches and interviews, as well as a vast range of comment

in the media. The report notes that the reaction to the invitation to comment was much greater than in previous comparable exercises in Hong Kong, and that the views received from a wide cross-section of

the Community provided a credible basis on which to make an

assessment.

4. The Assessment Office's judgement is that "After the most careful analysis and consultation of all the information received, the Office has concluded that most of the people of Hong Kong find