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After the Olympic Council of Asia's announcement on the host city for 2006 Asian Games, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan; President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee and Vice-chairman of the Asian Games Bid Committee, Mr Timothy Fok; and Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lam Woon-kwong, today (November 12) held a press conference in Pusan, Korea. Mrs Chan gave a statement first, which had been released. Following is the transcript (English portion)of the rest of the press conference:

Mr. Fok: Sorry. You know I have spent a few days with you - I am very emotional because through you, you have got a lot of Hong Kong people to support our quest. Unfortunately, I haven't brought you any good news. But I must say it's been a long marathon - over a year in June - and all along we have your support.

And actually, I thank this occasion and Mrs Chan, heading our bid. Actually, when I came out they said it was one of the best presentations and all along has been with the Government supporting the sportsmen and sports administration. And also, we did not get the right to host. But I hope some things have changed. Definitely, there is a new interest to sports in Hong Kong. And I hope with this new culture we can actually -in spite of not winning this bid - I hope that we can continue our work and that we have a better sports culture in Hong Kong. Thank you.

Reporter: I understand that in the second round, Hong Kong got just 6 votes. In fact if you have the votes, if you could confirm what the votes were in the second round? If I am correct that you just got 6 votes, does not that imply that our lobbying efforts failed?

Mrs Chan: I wasn't present during the voting, so I will ask Mr Fok to answer this.

Mr Fok: Well actually, during the time the voting was never announced. Was it announced publicly to you?

Reporter: I was given the figures.

Mr Fok: By whom? Because actually, this is one of the points. I knew we had a new - actually, after the vote was not given the actual figures.

Reporter: Do you have the figures?

Mr Fok: I don't have.

Mrs Chan: I am surprised that you were given the figures. Even Mr Timothy Fok did not know the result of the voting.

Mr Fok: Actually, it's something very curious. I was looking - the voting, the actual number was not disclosed.

Reporter: Mrs Chan, considering that . . .Well, do you think our lobbying efforts were . . .?

Mrs Chan: Of course we do not know the results of the vote, I am not able to draw any conclusion from this. All I would say is, I am somewhat disappointed that the whole voting process is not more open and transparent.

Reporter: If I could ask you a double-barrelled question. Number one, is it likely you will bid for the Olympic Games, the bid for the 2010 Games? And the second question is, what is now the future of the stadium which will be built in Southeast Kowloon. Is it going to go ahead or is it likely to be, say, not so urgent now that we haven't got the Games?

Mrs Chan: I think it is a little too early to speculate on whether we will make a bid for the 2010 Games. All I can say is, clearly we will go back, take stock of the situation - what we have learnt from this bidding experience - and we will then take a view from the community, from the legislature, and no doubt the executive committee will also wish to consider this, and in the light of all that consultation we will make a decision nearer the time as to whether we would make a further bid.

Insofar as the stadium is concerned, the stadium is required, on the basis of a consultancy report that we carried out, by the entire community. And so clearly, we will be building this project but in view of the fact that we were not successful in securing the bid, it is less time critical.

Reporter: I think there is a certain feeling out there, at least within the sports system, a feeling of dissatisfaction with this result. I bumped into somebody in the lift and asked, "What is your reaction?" - you know, one of the delegates ... Is there any sense of dissatisfaction about the way that this particular - this vote has gone - among the Hong Kong delegates?

Mrs Chan: Well, we are disappointed but as I've pointed out, we respect the decision that the member countries have made. But I have also observed that the whole voting culture does not seem to be very open and transparent and I think all countries would wish to see greater transparency and openness. We firmly believe this. Mr Fok, do you want to add anything?

Mr Fok: No.

Press Conference on result of Asian Games bid (Chinese part)

End/Sunday, November 12, 2000

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