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CS: Mr President, could I make it clear that the Government's position on the Provisional Legislature has not changed and remains as I have state in my reply to an earlier supplementary question. Of course, when I was in the States the question was put to me: If the Chinese insist on proceeding with a Provisional Legislature what will be the concerns? And I think I am reflecting the concerns of the people of Hong Kong and indeed the concerns of the international investing public, in saying that clearly one of the concerns would be to see in what way, if the Provisional Legislature is established, it would actually implement the principle of Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong and in what way it would conform with the requirements of the Basic Law.
Mr Howard Young: Mr President, judging from the Chief Secretary's reply, I think there is still a need to eradicate some confusion over reports and headlines such as 'The Chinese Are Disbanding the Current LegCo'. I had better ask my question in Cantonese, Mr President.
Mr Howard Young (in Chinese): Mr President, during the visit, I would like to know whether the CS has taken the opportunity to clarify the confusion over the present Legislature and the Provisional Legislature with regard to the constitutional stance. Because if we are to say that the present Legislature shouldstraddle 1997, there is going to be a constitutional question because unless the Letters Patent and Royal Instructions can also straddle 1997 then you can't say the present Legislature can straddle 1997. And if you are saying that the present lawmakers can straddle 1997, then it would be more reasonable and it could also avoid and steer clear of certain constitutional confusion. I would like to know whether you have taken the opportunity during your visit to clarify this point?
CS: Mr President, the constitutional position of the current Legislative Council is abundantly clear and I do not think requires any further clarification. On the other hand, if questions are asked about the Provisional Legislature, then I think that is really for the Chinese side to establish its constitutional position. And I repeat what I said in my two replies to the supplementary questions put to me just now.
Mr Lee Wing-tat (in Chinese): Mr President, in the US the CS mentioned the Provisional Legislature and that caused confusion in the minds of Hong Kong people because in Hong Kong she said that she was clearly opposed to the Provisional Legislature. However, in the US, the Chief Secretary said that if it was to be set up then it should be widely represented. I would like to know, when she said that, did she mean that even if a Provisional Legislature is to be appointed and if it is widely appointed, do you take it that it is widely representing Hong Kong's views and do you think that a Legislature that is elected by 1.5 million people in September last year could be replaced by such a Provisional Legislature?