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Following is the transcript (English portion) of a media session by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (July 29) after meeting Legislative Council Members from the Liberal Party:
I met four Legislative Council Members from the Liberal Party just now. We had a good discussion. They put forward some very constructive views on Article 23 of the Basic Law, on the economic recovery which we are all worried about and concerned about, on logistics, on the property market, on employment, as well as on education.
For me the purpose of the meeting is really to listen to their views. We will consider their views with great care and in great detail. Of course on some of the points, I have made some initial responses.
Concerning Article 23 of the Basic Law, I said yesterday also that the next round of consultation, there will be a round of consultation, will be a very comprehensive one and the aim is to win maximum support and understanding from the community at large. And there is no timetable for the legislative process.
We talked a great deal about economic recovery. It is a matter of concern of the community. In the short term, the recent increase in arrival of visitors from the Mainland and activities on the logistics front should help us on the unemployment situation. In the longer term, CEPA and much closer collaboration with the Pearl River Delta will give us new opportunities for our economic restructuring.
Lastly, we all agreed that if Hong Kong was to enjoy a healthy development across the whole economic, political and social spectrum, we must make every effort to maintain stability and stay united. We must also ensure Hong Kong and the Mainland develop a good interactive relationship within the "One Country, Two Systems" framework. In short, all of us should work together towards this objective. Thank you very much.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
End/Tuesday, July 29, 2003
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