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Transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, to reporters in Tel Aviv today (Thursday, HK time).

Q: (Cliff Bale, RTHK): I note that some former Basic Law drafters have called for the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to be allowed to rule on the Court of Final Appeal case on the Mainland children. Do you think this is a matter which should go to the Standing Committee?

Mr Tung: Well let me say this. This is a matter which is now being looked at very, very carefully by the government. As you know, Anson Chan has a committee organised to look at it in every aspect. I would say this, that the problem could be rather serious and that we have to understand the impact, if this problem is not resolved, the impact on education, on health care, community services, welfare. So it could become, develop into a serious problem. So we have to look at it carefully.

Q: (Cliff Bale, RTHK): But what do you think about the proposal to submit the matter to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress?

Mr Tung: Well let us look at the problem first to see how serious it is.

Q: (Cliff Bale, RTHK): But is there merit in the argument of the Basic Law drafters?

Mr Tung: Let us look at how serious the problem is.

End/Thursday, February 4,1999

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Chief Executive's transcript in Tel Aviv (Chinese part)