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Following is the transcript (English portion) of a media session by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (Designate), Dr York Chow Yat-ngok, at the Central Government Offices New Annexe today (October 8):

Reporter: First of all, why do you think you are the correct man for the job? And secondly, I understand that during the screening of your integrity, some personal matters were brought into question. Can you clear that up for us?

Dr Chow: Well, first of all, I don't know who are the other candidates, all right? Besides, I have spent a lot of time with Mr Tung (Chee Hwa) to understand his policy, priorities and whether I can deliver some of the objectives that he wants to achieve. Like all the Principal Officers, I think we have to go through integrity check and I believe that everybody has passed before they can be appointed.

Reporter: There are also concerns that in the three-year term that you're going to be the Health Secretary, there isn't enough time to implement reforms or initiate new reforms. How do you respond to that?

Dr Chow: I think in fact it is two years and nine months. It is not necessarily a short term. There are things that you can do within a very short time, but there are also things that you can plan and be able to contribute within the next, say, two to three years, so that the successor can actually pick it up eventually. I believe that the continuity of the bureau is most important so that we can be responsive to the needs of the community rather than just to individuals' desire. So I think this is a very important direction that we will follow.

Reporter: Dr Chow, so far your experience has only been on hospital management and you are now taking on a policy bureau that's involved in a wide range of issues like from welfare to health and medical. Do you think your experiences will be limited or what sort of strengths, what strengths are you coming in with as a policy secretary?

Dr Chow: I don't think I can change my background as a medical doctor and not particularly as an orthopaedic surgeon. But in the last 13 years I've been in administration and also able to participate in society and various other positions as well. I wouldn't say that I'm an experienced administrator, but I do have some experience in every field within this bureau. And I'm very lucky also to have very good supportive colleagues to help me. Hopefully this will be a very fast fresh course for me.

Reporter: If you needed help, would you seek Dr Yeoh (Eng-kiong)'s assistance? If you needed help when you first get into the office.....

Dr Chow: If there is something that he had planned and wanted to carry out, of course I would consult him again.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)

Ends/Friday, October 8, 2004

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