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Following is the English portion of the transcript of the media session by the Chief Executive, Mr. Tung Chee Hwa, before officiating at the Joint Professions' Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China at Regent Hotel this (Friday) evening:

Reporter: Mr. Tung, how do we reconcile Mrs. Chan's pledge that you will take appropriate action on Ms. Ng's visa problem with the statement coming out of your office that you are too tired and too busy to actually meet Ms. Ng?

Chief Executive: I am not sure where you are getting all these messages from. Let me repeat in English what I have said earlier on. I have contacted the central authority, and I am given to understand that according to the relevant laws of the People's Republic of China, Ms. Ng has been refused entry into Beijing. This of course is a decision of the central government. I'd like to emphasize that under "one-country-two-systems", the central government respects very much the high degree of autonomy that we enjoy today. And I think similarly we have to respect them when they have to make these decisions because it is within their right to do so.

Reporter: Would you tell Ms. Ng that personally when you see her upstairs?

Chief Executive: Let me tell you this: I have written to her today explaining what I have learnt and at the same time I have suggested to her that at an appropriate time, I would hope that there will be an opportunity for us to meet.

Reporter: What do you think of Liverpool's new signings over the summer?

Chief Executive: Well, I hope they will do much better. They are not doing as well as I hope they will do. All right, thank you very much.

Chief Executive's Transcript (Chinese Part)

End/Friday, September 17, 1999

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