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Following is a transcript of the media session by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, today (July 24) on the Housing Authority's decision to lodge an appeal against the judgement of the High Court handed down on July 11:

Reporter: Why did you decide to appeal and why did you decide to go directly to the Court of Final Appeal this time?

Mr Suen: We have decided to appeal because we believe that there are important principles of law involved in the litigation. It is important that we have a clear interpretation of the provisions of the relevant sections of the law in terms of the matters under consideration by the court. On why we have decided to approach the Court of Final Appeal is because like everyone else we wanted to have a final decision, a final view presented by the court. We don't want to prolong this particular matter.

We want to have a quick decision. That's why we have decided to make an application to the Court of Final Appeal to have the case heard as soon as possible. Of course it is a matter for the Court to decide. What we have decided to do is to make an application. This application will of course have to be consented by the other party. The judge who had handed down the judgement will also have to give a certificate allowing us to do that. So there are still a number of procedural points to go through before we can get confirmation one way or the other as to whether or not the Court of Final Appeal will hear this particular case.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion.)

End/Thursday, July 24, 2003

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