XN000022-1994-06-30 — Page 11

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THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1994

TRANSCRIPT OF CHIEF SECRETARY'S MEDIA SESSION

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MRS ANSON

FOLLOWING IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY, CHAN, SPEAKING то THE MEDIA AFTER THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES LUNCHEON ON JUNE 30, 1994:

QUESTION: MRS CHAN, COULD YOU GIVE US YOUR RESPONSE ΤΟ THE DEBATE OUTCOME YESTERDAY?

MRS CHAN: DEBATE OUTCOME?

QUESTION: YES.

MRS CHAN: DID I NOT SPEAK TO ALL OF YOU THIS MORNING AS I CAME OUT?

QUESTION (IN CHINESE); I'D LIKE TO ASK SOMETHING ABOUT THE LOBBYING OF

INDEPENDENT LEGISLATORS.

MRS CHAN (IN CHINESE): OK. LET ME ANSWER THIS QUESTION FIRST.

MRS CHAN: WELL, IT WAS AN EXTREMELY LONG DAY BUT WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME. AS YOU KNOW, THE ELECTORAL REFORM BILL HAS NOW BEEN PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE. THIS IS THE FINAL PACKAGE OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM. THE VOTE IN THE LEGISLATURE YESTERDAY CLEARLY REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY'S VIEW FOR ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS THAT WILL BE FAIR AND OPEN. WE WILL NOW GET ON WITH THE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS. THIS WE WILL DO IMMEDIATELY AND I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THOSE WHO ARE POTENTIALLY QUALIFIED TO TAKE PART IN THE VOTING WILL IN FACT TAKE PART ACTIVELY. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY CITIZEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VOTING BECAUSE ONLY IN THIS WAY CAN YOU HAVE A SAY IN THE WAY WHICH YOU'RE GOVERNED.

QUESTION: YOU SOUNDED LIKE A BUSINESSMEN

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THAT YOU HAVE A

LOT TO CONVINCING AFTER THE REFORM WAS PASSED YESTERDAY. DO YOU THINK

WILL BE DONE NOW? "

THERE IS A LOT WHICH

MRS

CHAN: I THINK THAT IT IS VERY NATURAL THAT IN THIS HISTORIC MOVE TOWARDS HAVING FOR THE FIRST TIME A FULLY-ELECTED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1995, THAT DIFFERENT COUNCILLORS SHOULD HOLD DIFFERENT VIEWS. AND SOME OF THEM HAVE VERY STRONG VIEWS ABOUT WHAT THE APPROPRIATE PACE OF POLITICAL REFORM, WHAT PACE WOULD BE RIGHT FOR HONG KONG. WHILE I DON'T SHARE THEIR CONCERN, NEVERTHELESS, I RESPECT THEIR VIEWS. AND CLEARLY то THE EXTENT THAT THE BUSINESS SECTOR HAVE CONCERNS, AS A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, WE'LL SEEK TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, YOU WILL HAVE HEARD JUST NOW IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION AT THE LUNCHEON, I ALSO ENCOURAGE THE BUSINESS SECTOR TO REACH OUT AND ΤΟ ESTABLISH A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE WITH MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND WITH MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES. THE BUSINESS SECTOR ITSELF HAS A VERY GOOD STORY TO TELL.. THEY PLAY A VERY RESPONSIBLE ROLE, NOT JUST IN BUSINESS IN HONG KONG BUT IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO I'M SURE IF THEY EXPLAIN THAT, AND EXPLAIN THEIR POINTS OF VIEW AND THEIR CONCERNS, THAT THEY'LL FIND A WILLING EAR.

/QUESTION: