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The following is the transcript (English portion) of the stand-up session given by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the Central Government Offices this (August 1) evening:

I have replied to the invitation letter addressed to me by the investigation panel set up by the University of Hong Kong.

The panel is formed under the University of Hong Kong Ordinance. Although it does not confer on the panel the power to summon any witness, I will be most willing to assist if I have any relevant information to give to the panel.

I have stated publicly on July 7th and 14th that I have never asked anyone to request Dr. Chung or any institution to stop conducting opinion polls. Dr. Wong Siu-lun, Professor Cheng and Mr Andrew Lo have all affirmed that they had never received any request from me to stop Dr. Chung's polling activities.

For the reason as I explained above, I have written to the panel stating that because I have no relevant information to offer, I have declined the invitation.

We welcome the establishment of the panel and will cooperate with the investigation to enable it to provide the public with a full account of this incident. I have therefore agreed that Mr Andrew Lo may attend the hearing and provide the information.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is fully committed to the protection of academic freedom. This is an important foundation of the free society which Hong Kong represents. Since this incident has been an issue of concern, I hope that the Commission will complete its work at an earlier date to provide the public with a full account of the incident.

Reporter: ... secondly, if you are responsible to the legislature. If the legislature sets up a selective committee, would you be responsible to...?

Chief Executive: Well, let me answer the whole question. Firstly, you know I cannot predict what the legislature will do. It is up to the legislature when they start functioning in October to take that decision. In the meantime, I think the best thing to do is to allow the Commission to continue the work, to complete the work as soon as possible. What was your first question, sorry?

Reporter: How do you respond to the impression that somehow you escape the cross-examination?

Chief Executive: It is not a question of escaping the cross-examination. The fact is that those people at the University had in fact said I have not given any request of any form to ask Dr Chung to stop the work he is doing. That is a fact.

Reporter: You have mentioned that you respect the University's inquiry. Would you care to just turn up and show them respect and show them...

Chief Executive: Because the decision is not an easy decision. But I made the decision after very careful consideration of the pros and cons. For reasons I explained a number of times already - I don't intend to repeat - I think it is the right decision to make.

Chief Executive's transcript (Chinese Part)

End/Tuesday, August 1, 2000

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