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The following is the transcript of the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Henry Tang, speaking to the media today (May 7) about the jewellery fair in Las Vegas:
Reporter: ...........do you think the measures imposed by the organiser are unfair and what the Government will do about that?
SCIT: As far as the special arrangement that is proposed by the organiser of the jewellery fair in Las Vegas, we think it is unnecessary as well as unreasonable. Because first of all the World Health Organisation is satisfied that Hong Kong is not exporting any SARS patient already, and secondly, in a transparent and proactive manner, we have been cooperating with WHO and disseminating in a totally transparent manner how we are containing and treating the virus. On those fronts, we have continuously liaised with the organisers and exhibitors and given them the latest information regarding the number of new confirmed cases which has steadily declined and how we are containing the spread of the disease. We feel these arrangements are unreasonable as well as unnecessary.
Reporter: You have mentioned that Hong Kong had not sought help from China over the Swiss incident because it might have an impact on Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy. Could you explain that ...........
SCIT: Under the "One Country Two Systems", trade matters are within the autonomy of Hong Kong. I think this is a very important principle that we should adhere to, otherwise the autonomy as well as the integrity of the "One Country Two Systems" will be affected.
Reporter: Could you please elaborate why asking China to seek fair and justice for business would have an impact on our "One Country Two Systems" principle?
SCIT: We have in the past always cooperated with the Central People's Government very closely on many issues, and will continue to do so. We feel that our cooperation, under the "One Country Two Systems", is something that we very much value, so we of course will seek Central People's Government's cooperation and to let each other know what we are doing. Therefore, in many of these incidents, we will notify the Central People's Government of what we are doing and sometimes they notify us of what they are doing. I think this is really building on an already close friendship as well as close cooperation and we will continue to do so.
(Please see the Chinese portion of the transcript)
End/Wednesday, May 7, 2003
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