TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 73

監察團辦事處 香港金鐘道三十八號 最高法院

CONFIDENTIAL

PERSONAL

OFFICE OF THE MONITORING TEAM

THE SUPREME COURT

38 QUEENSWAY

HONG KONG

Basis for Discussion with the Governor on 23.10.84

Draft Agreement: Consultation and Assessment

1.

2.

3.

The draft Agreement widely acknowledged success. Concern now whether the reported outcome of consultation exercise will match it even though clear evidence of general acceptability of Agreement.

Why concern ? Some persistent critics of assessment task (some MPS; Sunday S. China M. Post; Far Eastern Econ. Review; a few HK voices) and, at this stage of exercise, some justification for their criticisms.

Criticisms take two major forms:

(a)

(b)

Emphasis by HMG (Sir G. Howe) has been heavily, if not exclusively, on the line: 'Here is the draft Agreement

altered

T

It cannot be

Take it or reject it as a whole A line reinforced by lack of emphasis at the outset of the importance attached to HK people's views.

Thus criticism: What is point of assessment task ? Why bother to express views ? ('pre-cooked dish'), (a 'farce').

Assessment Office itself has been somewhat ham-fisted and insensitive. Adverts. and PR line provided no reassurance about confidentiality; and emphasis more on 'where' to write than on 'why' to write.

-

Thus argued that relatively low response also due to AO's handling of the task while recognising that Govt. and AO have taken corrective action.

......

Appointed by the Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs 英國外交及聯邦事務大臣委任