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    Following is a transcript of remarks (English portion) given by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at a media stand-up at the Main Wing lobby of the Central Government Offices this afternoon (August 11):

Chief Executive: We just started the consultation process. I have just met members of the Liberal Party. We had a very fruitful exchange covering a wide range of subjects including executive-legislative relationship, pollution, cross-boundary traffic. These are quite important subjects from our point of view and from their point of view. It was a very useful exchange.

    I will be meeting other legislative members in the coming months. I will also be meeting district councillors and people from different sectors, education sector, professionals, labour, commerce and of course, social welfare and medical fraternity. I will be listening to their views very carefully. I am looking forward to forming partnership with them, making sure their views will be reflected in major areas of concern of mine. These are in areas of promoting a harmonious society, upgrading the governance of Hong Kong and also in economic development.

    Hong Kong is a pluralistic society. There will be a variety of views expressed. Even on common theme we might have different ideas how it should be implemented. This is all good in a pluralistic society of Hong Kong. I will welcome that. And we should expect that during the consultation period. When I begin to put pen to paper on the Policy Address in September, I will consider each and every view given to me during this consultation. I will try to accommodate the views as much as possible. But my view is to implement what I have set out to do. It is to reflect the views of Hong Kong people, to serve the people's interest in the final analysis. I won't be able to implement each and every proposal made to me and this is only natural. So I will be selecting those which are considered to be most important to the common good. But when I decide to do something I will certainly try to implement it as best I can and I am aiming to deliver results during my term.

Reporter: (concerning Ching Cheong's case)

Chief Executive: We are giving whatever help Mrs Ching needs in securing whatever help that she wants.  We are in good contact with her. This is a case which is very close to our hearts but is a matter, as I said, where we should work hard behind the scenes. We should talk less and discuss less. This is a matter going into the realm of the courts. It is a matter which I will continue to work hard on.

Reporter: [concerning renovation of Government House and Law Enforcement (Covert Surveillance Procedures) Order]

Chief Executive: I regard it as my duty to move into Government House and we are doing it as economically but as suitably as possible during the renovation process and we are not bypassing anyone. The usual renovation work which will have to be carried out whether or not I move into it costs $5 million. That additional expenditure in converting them into offices and so on and redecorating after eight years of non-use, that will cost about $9.5 million. So altogether it's slightly less than $15 million which is a requirement for submission for specific approval by the Finance Committee. We are doing it exactly according to the rules. We are not trying to bypass anyone. We are reporting to the Finance Committee what we propose to do.

    As regarding the Executive Order [Law Enforcement (Covert Surveillance

Procedures) Order], I have explained many times this is something we need to do to catch criminals. We are not talking about interception, we are talking about normal surveillance, we are talking about normal surveillance facilities. What I have tried to do in the Executive Order is to ensure that we have uniform, very carefully crafted procedures to ensure that the disciplined services when they carry out surveillance  will do it according to the rules which I have set out. This is for internal discipline purposes, and also provides a legal procedure basis for them to carry out this kind of work. But the Executive Order is not a law in itself; it does not impose any criminal liabilities or any sanctions on ordinary citizens. It will certainly not take away any of their rights whatsoever. And it is something we need to do. There is no disagreement between us and our lawyers that we need legislation. But what are we going to do in the interim? We must make sure the thugs are arrested, corrupt elements are put to law. This is what we try to do and we must do in order to take protect law and order in Hong Kong.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Thursday, August 11, 2005

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