TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 32

CONFIDENTIAL

FILE COPY

COMMS OFFICE REG. NO:

6589

D.T.R. 3 SEPTEMBER, 1984 1540 HRS D.T.D. 3 SEPTEMBER 1984 1635 HRS

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG Ø30750Z SEP 84

TO IMMEDIATE F CO

TELEGRAM NUMBER NUMBER 2618 OF 3 SEPTEMBER

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

FUTURE OF HONG KONG : ADMINISTRATION : TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY.

MIPT. FOLLOWING IS OUTLINE OF PROCEDURE OF ASSESSMENT OFFICE.

BEGINS:-

GENERAL APPROACH

1. IN ORDER TO BE AS OBJECTIVE AND IMPARTIAL AS POSSIBLE, THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WILL ADORI A PASSIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS ITS TASK.

work IT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AS

OPPOSED TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, TO PUBLISH, PUBLICISE AND EXPLAIN of

THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. FURTHERMORE, IT WILL BE THE TASK OF THE H.K. GOVERNMENT, NOT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, TO STIMULATE ARGUMENT ON Govt AND DISCUSSION OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT AND TO MAKE ANY SPECIAL

work

ARRANGEMENTS TO FACILITATE THE EXPRESSION OF VIEWS IN HONG KONG.

THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WILL NOT GO OUT TO CANVASS PUBLIC OPINION, NOR WILL IT ESTABLISH SUB-OFFICES FOR THE COLLECTION OF VIEWS.

2. THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE STATE THAT VIEWS ARE TO BE EXPRESSED IN WRITING, EITHER DIRECTLY TO THE OFFICE, OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH WELL-ESTABLISHED AND FAMILIAR CONSULTATIVE CHANNELS IN HONG KONG. THE GOVERNMENT WILL

of Commis. THEREFORE ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS IN

stown WRITING DIRECTLY TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, AND IT WILL BE MADE CLEAR THAT THE OFFICE WILL NOT WISH TO RECEIVE VERBAL OPINIONS

CONFIDENTIAL

/OVER THE TELEPHONE

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