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Transcript of the Chief Secretary's media session
The following is a transcript of the Chief Secretary Mrs Anson Chan's media session after the Executive Council meeting today (Tuesday):
Chief Secretary: I've just come back from a very relaxing holiday, but it is great to be back in Hong Kong. I'm even very glad to see you all. I've spent the last three days with my husband in Beijing at the invitation of Director Lu. As you all know, I have an invitation from Director Lu to visit China. Unfortunately we weren't able to agree dates earlier on particularly in view of the controversy surrounding whether the visit will or will not take place. We felt that it would be better for the visit to take place without prior publicity but of course on my return I would let you all, I've just also briefed ExCo, know of the visit. I think on this visit I was able not only to have a long discussion with Director Lu and with his two deputy directors but in particular I was very honoured and very happy to be able to meet with Vice-Premier Mr Qian Qichen at Diaoyutai. Both these discussions took place in a very friendly, very cordial and relaxed atmosphere. We covered a range of transitional issues, issues that are of concern to both sides, ranging from the economy to the civil service, the coming establishment of the Preparatory Committee and the CEO designate and his team. I came away from both these visits really feeling very good and very encouraged about the prospect for more positive co-operation between the two sides and in particular for more regular contact at the senior level of the civil service with our Chinese counterparts. Indeed Mr Lu and I agreed that from here on, he and I should be in regular touch and that when senior officials visit Beijing, they should also call on officials in the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. Both Vice-Premier Qian and Director Lu were at pains to reassure me about the importance that they attached to the civil service, their wish to see continuity within the civil service, their wish to see the majority of civil service continuing in office after 1997 and of course subject to the various provisions in the Basic Law and the Joint Declaration as regards the selection of the CEO designate and his responsibility to nominate principal official posts. We also discussed a range of other issues. On the whole, I am extremely glad that this visit has taken place. I am particularly grateful to Director Lu for seeing me and giving me an hour and a half of his time, particularly as you know he has not been well and indeed he came to the meeting from hospital. But he is making good recovery and I hope very soon that he will be fully well and will return to his desk. I greatly look forward to maintaining contact with Director Lu. I hope that this will be the first of many other visits to China. I was also extremely encouraged by Mr Qian Qichen's invitation that I would be welcomed to visit China at any time. So on the whole, an extremely good visit. I will certainly be passing on the reassurances given to me by Mr Qian and by Director Lu to my civil servant colleagues and I am sure that they would also prove re-assuring to my colleagues. Thank you.
Question: Were there any specific agreements...?