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Following is the transcript (English portion) of a stand-up session given by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, on completion of a Leadership Retreat at the Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel today (July 28):
Reporter : Mr. Tung. Can you explain what have been achieved through the discussions and also what specific problems have been dealt with?
Mr. Tung : Well, its been a very useful off-site gathering. I think through this particular gathering, the team spirit is so much better, understanding amongst all my colleagues so much better. Specifically we talked about a number of subjects, including the importance of the civil service. Actually, civil servants are our partners because civil servants can make sure that the policies are properly implemented. Next week I'll be meeting different groups of civil servants, listen to their views so that we can together take the best step forward.
Obviously, one of the major concerns is about unemployment. We want to think outside the box to see how we can move one step further. High unemployment we have today is unfortunately a structural one. It may be with us for some time, and its something we really have to be working very hard as a government. You know its not something the government alone can solve. There are other problems we alone can't solve. Within communities, the unions, the labour unions, or even individuals like you, we must all come together to try to solve this particular problem. As a government we'll be increasing and communicating more with all the different sectors of our society with a view to finding a better solution for this very difficult problem.
We also talked about the process of formulating policies. We need to be listening to more and more people within the different sectors of the community and, of course, at the very early stage, the involvement of the Exco Members is very important.
On the whole, this one-and-a-half-days' hard work has been wonderful. It was a very rewarding experience. We have become more confident. The team is much more confident in the face of all the challenges ahead of us, and we'll be successful.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
End/Sunday, July 28, 2002
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Picture
shows the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa,and his teams of Principal
Officials, non-official Executive Council Members and Permanent Secretaries,
photographed at the end of the Leadership Retreat at the Hong Kong Gold
Coast Hotel in Tuen Mun.
