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Following is the transcript (English portion) of the media session by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, on the personnel arrangements for the post of the Secretary for Justice at Central Government Offices New Annexe this (October 20) afternoon:
Reporter: I¡¦m sure you are very sad to see Elsie Leung go, she looks quite emotional. But how do you feel about the fact that she is actually the first ministerial officer to leave office since you have taken your post as CE. And can you tell ¡K..?
Chief Executive: Let me answer the question. Ms Leung was not the first ministerial appointee who left the SAR Government, but as far as within my term is concerned, I had been notified on the date of my appointment of her intention. Indeed I had known about her intention to leave before, well before, the question of Mr Tung¡¦s resignation became an issue. So I was emotionally and well prepared for this event, although I am certainly very, very reluctant to let her go. I can only wish her a very happy retirement.
Reporter: First of all, Ms Leung, thank you for patience, over the past several years, that you have shown with us. I appreciate that personally. Mr Tsang, you say that you share a philosophy of the law with the new appointee. Could you tell us what that philosophy is, give us some examples. For example, you have referred to the "privatisation of morals" in another issue ¡V the issue of appealing the gay sex case. Is this the sort of thing on which you find common ground?
Chief Executive: No, I do not know Mr Wong¡¦s personal views on that, but that is immaterial. The question of the appeal is a matter of a combination of legal judgment and also a matter of policy. I did what I have done. The matter is up to the court. I do not want to engage in detailed discussion of that case as such. When I am saying that Mr Wong and myself move along similar wavelengths, this is the impression that I have gained in my conversations with him. In the little debate that I had with him during my election and particularly from what I have heard, from people who have known him a lot better than myself, as a result, I have much confidence in his ability in performing the full range of duties as the Secretary for Justice and the ability to work with me and with all the rest of my Principal Official team as a strong team member.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, October 20, 2005
Issued at HKT 17:31
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