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Following is the transcript (English portion)of the press conference given by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, tonight (March 26):

Reporter: Mr Tung, in 1999, when the Standing Committee of the NPC reinterpreted the judgments of the Court of Final Appeal on the right of abode issue, that was perceived as a last resort, that the NPCSC became involved in Hong Kong's legal matters. But this time it seems as though they have come out right at the beginning in a kind of pre-emptive way. Are you afraid that perceptions of Hong Kong's autonomy being guaranteed might be damaged because of this? And are you afraid, perhaps, that the people of Hong Kong will demonstrate in a way that they came out on last July 1st?

Mr Tung: Well, as I've said earlier on, that this is done, indeed, in the interest of Hong Kong. Our constitutional development is the issue between the Central Government and the Hong Kong SAR, and as such, the Central Authorities have a very definitive role to play. As you know, they have the responsibility, as well as the right, to look at this and move forward on this. I think by doing this, they actually will be able to help us move forward in our discussion in the community. (This will give us the) ability to move forward and to avoid endless wrangling and legal wrangling in courts and in the community as a whole, which in fact might stifle us from moving forward in constitutional reform. So I think it is a good step that is being taken.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)

Ends/Friday, March 26, 2004

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