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In response to a press report today ascribing certain actions and motives to the Chief Executive and Mr Edgar Cheng, Head of the Central Policy Unit, in the presentation of the Policy Address and related documents, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan wishes to make it clear that these are pure speculation and completely without foundation.

"The fact is that my senior colleagues and I have carefully worked out a new set of arrangements for the Policy Address, including those for presenting the progress report," Mrs Chan said. "The aim is to improve the presentation of the work of the Government and the series of documents accompanying the Chief Executive's speech in the Legislative Council."

The Government's progress reports in recent years were criticised for over-rating Government's performance. Hence careful consideration has been given to the best way to report on Government's performance.

"Bureau Secretaries will present their individual progress report to the respective Legislative Council Panels and the media after the Policy Address on 6 October," Mrs Chan said. "The community can see clearly for themselves how the Government has performed in specific programmes. There is no question of reducing transparency or accountability."

End/Monday, October 4, 1999

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