***************

Following is the transcript of the meet-the-media session by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, after his visit to the Eastern District today (January 23):

Reporter: Mr Tung, good evening. I would like to ask you two short questions. The first one is what is the purpose of these two trips, and what do you think you have gained from it? What is your reaction to the tragedy that happened in Tsz Wan Shan? Do you think there is anything the Government could do to prevent such a tragedy from happening ever again?

Mr Tung: I think the purpose of the trip is really for me at first hand to understand the issues that the people of this area are most concerned about. Recognising and knowing these specific issues would help me and the Government when we design or implement policies. So, that's one of the reasons why I am here. There are obviously other reasons. For instance, I was talking about the need for a lift, and may be a pedestrian walkway up the hill of Braemar Hill. I had spent time looking at it, trying to understand the issues. It's very helpful to me to understand what the ordinary folks in this area are hoping the Government would do for them.

I think the tragedy that happened recently is very painful for everybody. As a Government, there are areas we need to look into. The Social Welfare Department is following through, trying to do the best they can. Basically, the issue, I think, is one that we should revisit our traditional values, that of caring, of loving, of helping each other, of giving rather than taking, of how important the family unit is, and of how important education is. So, these are the areas I think, we, as a Government, must try to work together with the community at large to work out and this would help the whole community to move forward.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)

End/Wednesday, January 23, 2002

NNNN