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The following is the transcript of the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Henry Tang, at a media session after the opening of the Asia Business Leader Summit today (October 11):

Reporter: My question actually is about moving business from Hong Kong, what kind of measures will the Government introduce to check against this?

SCIT: Actually, I don't have any specific measures at this moment because I am still in the process of formulating the policy as well as listening to more views from the sector. However I'd like to stress that whatever policy that comes out, it will have to be fair and transparent. Fair and transparent are obvious. The rules must be clear because we are very much a rule-based society. And they must be fair because whatever measures we come up with, must treat those who are already in Hong Kong and those who are from outside Hong Kong equally.

Reporter: ... are these measures ...

SCIT: I very much believe that Hong Kong's private sector knows best where to locate their operation. And whatever we do, it must ultimately make economic sense. Therefore I think that it will be a guiding principle for me to determine those policies as well as the availability of resources.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion.)

End/Friday, October 11, 2002

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