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Following is the transcript (English portion) of the media session given by the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs (Designate), Mr Stephen Lam, at the Main Wing of the Central Government Offices today (June 24):

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs (Designate): I am very honoured to have the opportunity to serve as the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs under the new system. In fact prior to 1997, in the former Constitutional Affairs Branch, and in the Handover Ceremony Coordination Office, I have the opportunity to take part in arrangements concerning the reunification and arrangements for ensuring a smooth transition. And also in the last five years, both in the Department of Justice and in the work of the Chief Executive's Office, I have continued to participate in the implementation of the Basic Law and of the "One Country, Two Systems". So this time round going back to the Constitutional Affairs Bureau is in a sense a continuation of the work which I have done in all these past years and I am delighted that I have a further opportunity to take part in a policy portfolio in which I have a personal interest and some previous experience which is relevant. So I am happy to take questions.

Reporter: ......Would that be one of your policy priorities?

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs (Designate): According to the Basic Law, the ultimate aim is for Hong Kong's electoral system to go in the direction of universal suffrage. And since the reunification, we have made measured progress in terms of electoral reforms. We have had elections for the Chief Executive, for the Legislative Council and for District Councils. So in the next two years, we will continue to deal with, to prepare for the elections to the District Councils and to the Legislative Council. As for the question of constitutional reforms by 2007, I will listen very carefully to the views in the community and discuss with my colleagues within the Government.

Reporter: ...You might not be a very familiar face to the public?

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs (Designate): I think all our colleagues today have fully realised the importance of public communication. As far as myself is concerned, I have been involved in this process in regard to constitutional affairs since 1994. And in the last five years, even though I have no longer been actively involved, directly involved in constitutional affairs, I have never left the field both in terms of the Department of Justice and in terms of working in the Chief Executive's Office. This has always been a very important part of the many issues which we have dealt with. I do not think it is necessary to worry about public profile. The media in Hong Kong is very active. Whenever there are issues, we will always be held to account. As far as I am concerned, I am always willing to be questioned about our policy priorities and to explain the rationale for the policy position which we will adopt.

Reporter: There are a lot of views on democratic development in Hong Kong already. Can you explain why it is taking the Government so long to ..... come up with a timetable as to when it will review the democratic development here. Why is it so difficult?

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs (Designate): I will answer your question first and then I will take one final question in Chinese and then I think you all have a very long day.

So far as I can see Hong Kong's constitutional institutions are already in place. We have in Hong Kong a representative Legislature, an independent Judiciary, and open and uncorrupt Government and a free press. These are the institutions which underpin the free society which exists in Hong Kong. And as far as I can see, the Basic Law has provided for all these institutions to underpin the governance of Hong Kong. As for electoral reform, this is just one aspect of the total constitutional structure that we have designed for the HKSAR. We have been following the timetable as specified in the Basic Law and we would have some important decisions to make sometime before 2007. At this juncture, it is important for the Government to listen carefully to the views of different sectors of the community. We will deal with this issue very seriously and with a great deal of thinking put into this.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)

End/Monday, June 24, 2002

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