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The following is a transcript of the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, speaking to the press at the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island this (October 24) afternoon (English portion).

Reporter: Mr Suen, can you conclude the results of today's talk and what is the way forward?

Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands: I think we have a very good meeting with those responsible. We are all after preserving the characteristics of this surrounding and we are all working to the same objective. Although there were differences of views as to how we achieve that, I think what we manage to do this afternoon is to sit down and talk over our differences and agree that we should continue to resolve those problems.

Reporter: The blockade won't go ahead?

Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands: I am afraid I am not in a position to say that. It is a matter for the directors of the board of the Po Lin Monastery and I understand that they will be meeting tonight. I hope that after the meeting they will have something to announce that will please everyone.

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

End/Thursday, October 24, 2002

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