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The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:

Following is the transcript (English portion) of a media session by the new Executive Council (ExCo) member, Mrs Laura Cha, at the Central Government Offices today (October 12):

Question: Are you disappointed that you are joining ExCo without any pro-democracy representatives in it?

Laura Cha: I have no preconceived idea of who else would be in the Executive Council. As far as I am concerned, I will do my best and serve in my personal capacity to serve the interests of Hong Kong as a whole.

Question: How can you reassure the public that you won't be representing business interests instead of Hong Kong's interests?

Laura Cha: I think as I have mentioned earlier, Hong Kong has a very advanced disclosure of interests, declaration of interests system and the checks and balances provided in public and by the media are also very good and very transparent. I am a non-official member. Non-official members are allowed to have their own career and their job, so in that capacity whatever the job is, it is important that when you are participating in any decision-making, you declare the interest if there is any conflict. And if there is a direct conflict, I think one should abstain from the discussion altogether.

I would refer you to my prior work experience at the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong where my work was directly regulating listed companies. There I have been able to stake my professionalism and apply the policy in an unbiased fashion.

Question: This being your first political appointment, are you well-versed in political dialogue to be able to handle all the pressures that are required?

Laura Cha: I believe I can. I have always been in high pressure jobs before, so I will use my past experience as a guide and principles, and I don't believe it will be a problem.

Question: What about handling the press and trying not to say too much, not trying to say too little?

Laura Cha: ExCo members are bound by the confidentiality and the collective responsibility requirements, so as a member of ExCo, I will have to follow that. As to how I handle the press, I don't know, you are the best judge for that.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)

Ends/Tuesday, October 12, 2004

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