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The Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, said she was very disappointed that the motion of thanks on the Chief Executive's 2000 Policy Address did not pass in the Legislative Council this afternoon despite the generally positive community response and the support given by many members during the debate last week.

"The motion of thanks is a convention, the passage of which would have sent a positive signal to both the local and international community," she said.

Whilst disappointed, Mrs Chan stressed that this would not affect the Administration's firm resolve to improve communication and co-operation with members of the Legislative Council, in implementing the various programmes outlined in the Chief Executive's Policy Address.

End/Wednesday, November 1, 2000

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