Secretary for Constitutional Affairs's transcript

***************************************

The following is the transcript of the remarks made by the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Michael Suen, after he has cast vote at Po Kok Girl's Middle School polling station this (Sunday) morning :

Reporter: What is your message to the voters?

SCA: I think this is very early in the morning. Voting has just started. We've still got a long day to go. Although the weather is not very stable, I think every voter should treasure this opportunity to come and cast their votes to elect their own members to the Legislative Council. This is the first election for the HKSAR and it is important that we all turn out to vote for the Legislative Council election.

Reporter: What in fact do you think this inclement weather will have on the voter's turnout?

SCA: Well, I hope that is not going to have any effect because it is going to be a long day and I don't believe that it will keep on raining the whole day. Even if it rains, voting stations are not too far away from your home. Even if it rains heavily, just like every day, you've got to go to work. You've got to go to your entertainment. Just treat it as normal and spare a few minutes to go to your voting station to cast your vote because it is important that you elect your own representative to the Legislative Council.

Reporter: Did the Government at any time consider postponing the election because of this bad weather?

SCA: Well, I don't think it is a matter for our discretion because the law makes it very clear that it's only in very special circumstances for example, the whole community is immobilised because of typhoon, because of very exceptional heavy rain but I don't think we are experiencing that situation today.

Reporter: Do you think the voter turnout is going to be better than last time?

SCA: As I said, we are always hoping for the best. We are eternal optimists. There's a long day to go and I think it depends on the community of Hong Kong. It is not up to me and therefore I appeal once again to the community of Hong Kong to come out to vote because this is your opportunity, this is our opportunity to elect our own members to the Legislative Council.

End/Sunday, May 24, 1998

NNNN

Photo