TNAG-1332-FCO40-1762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-White-Paper-on-the-Joint-Declaration-1984 — Page 288

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THIS IS NOT A CHOICE WHICH HMG HAVE WISHED TO IMPOSE ON THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. IT IS A CHOICE IMPOSED BY THE FACTS OF HON

KONG'S HISTORY.

THE AGREEMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG

30. HMG HAVE CONSISTENTLY STATED THAT AN AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG MUST BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS WELL AS TO PARLIAMENT. IN HIS STATEMENT ON 20 APRIL 1984 IN HONG KONG THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS STATED THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD NEED TO HAVE TIME TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE AGREEMENT, BEFORE IT WAS DEBATED BY PARLIAMENT. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL NOW HAVE THIS

OPPORTUNITY.

31. THE TEXT OF THE PRESENT WHITE PÅPER IS BEING REPRODUCED IN A WHITE PAPER ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND WILL BE

AN CIRCULATED THROUGH A WIDE VARIETY OF CHANNELS IN HONG KONG. ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAS BEEN SET UP IN HONG KONG UNDER THE CHARGE OF A SENIOR OFFICIAL OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, DIRECTLY

THIS OFFICE WILL PROVIDE HMG AND RESPONSIBLE TO THE GOVERNOR. PARLIAMENT WITH AN ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF OPINION IN HONG KONG ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT.

TWO MONITORS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY HMG TO OBSERVE THE WORK OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE AND TO REPORT INDEPENDENTLY TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS ON WHETHER THEY ARE SATISFIED THAT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAS PROPERLY, ACCURATELY AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGED ITS DUTIES. IN THE LIGHT OF THESE TWO REPORTS HMG WILL DECIDE WHAT RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE TO PARLIAMENT.

32. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE NOW INVITED TO COMMENT ON THE OVERALL ACCEPTABILITY OF THE ARRANGEMENTS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN HMG AND THE CNESE GOVERNMENT FOR HONG KONG, IN THE LIGHT OF THE BACKGROUND SET OUT IN THIS WHITE PAPER.

YOUNG

DISTRIBUTION:-

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

COPIES TO:

SIR P CRADOCK

MR FIFOOT ) LEGAL

MR BURROWS ) ADV

SIR W HARDING

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