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Mr Tsang Kin-shing (in Chinese); Mr Governor, I recall that there was a consultative document that was produced by the SARG and within the space of 36 hours the Security Branch produced a response to it and this is the kind of efficiency that has made Hong Kong people so happy because we can see that the civil service is very efficient. I hope that you can retain the same efficiency. I don't want you to wait until June 30, because by then I may not be able to see you anymore and I may not get another opportunity to put questions to you. And so, could you by April 30 or May 30, put together this registration system in Hong Kong? There is no transparency in mainland China, transparency only exists in Hong Kong. What Hong Kong can do, Hong Kong should do. We should do whatever we can do in Hong Kong. So that you register those kids, so that the parents know how long they have to wait, how long they have to wait before the kids can come to Hong Kong, five years or ten years. If they do know for certainty then they will not buy places and they do not buy places then the snakehead cannot endanger the lives of the kids. And so, can you use the same efficiency you used to respond to the consultative document from CS office to try to put together this registration system?

Governor: I agree with the honourable gentleman that we acted with our customary competence in reacting to that consultation document. I only say in passing, since the honourable gentleman gives me the opportunity, that I wish we hadn't needed to do so because the one thing which the consultative document doesn't do is to demonstrate in any way how any of the laws referred to contravene the Basic Law, or for that matter, the Joint Declaration. This has been, in my judgement, a wholly unnecessary controversy which has I think done some damage to our reputation and I wish the argument hadn't been embarked on in the first place.

As for the suggestion from the honourable gentleman that we should attempt to be as competent in the area he's touched on as we have been in others, we'll certainly take that to heart and I'm sure if he wears those braces I'll be able to go on seeing him, even in the dark.

President (in Chinese): So I'm sure your secret lighter will make you stand out!

Mr Andrew Cheng Kar-foo (in Chinese): Now you've allowed Mr Tsang to ask a long question. I thought that I would not be allowed to ask a question.

President (in Chinese): Please be concise Mr Cheng. Because we started a bit late and that's why I will allow one more question. Please be brief.

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