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Following is a question by the Hon Lee Wing-tat and a reply by the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Hon Anson Chan, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this council whether the Chief Executive will:

(a) according to the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council, attend meetings of the council during this legislative session to answer questions put to him by Members on the work of the Government; if so, what the details are;

(b) plans to address the council and answer questions from Members after each trip to Beijing to report on his work;

(c) plans to hold question-and-answer sessions in various districts of Hong Kong after delivering of his Policy Address this year, so as to solicit views directly from the public; and

(d) plans other arrangements to explain the work of the Government directly to the council and the public; if so, what the details are; if not, why not?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The Chief Executive will attend meetings of the Legislative Council to address the Council or answer questions put to him by members on the work of the Government when he considers it appropriate. Tentatively, he proposes to do so in October for his Policy Address, in February before the Budget and in June. The Chief Executive will also keep in touch with members through various other channels, including meetings with LegCo members and political parties from time to time.

(b) Unless he sees a special need to do so, the Chief Executive has no plans at present to address the council and answer members' questions after each trip to Beijing.

(c) The publicity programme for the 1998 Policy Address is not yet finalised. The Chief Executive would wish to consider all avenues of soliciting public opinion including district question and answer sessions before taking a final decision.

(d) In addition to attending meetings of the Legislative Council and addressing the public after each Policy Address, the Chief Executive will also have various other opportunities to reach out to different sectors of the community. These include press sessions, radio or television programmes and regular visits to districts and organisations.

End/Wednesday, July 22, 1998

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