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Following is the transcript (English portion) of remarks to the media by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, after attending the "Economic Summit 2006: Roadmap to Hong Kong Success" today (December 1):
Reporter: Mr Tsang, could you please explain why you think we are just one step away from universal suffrage?
Chief Executive: Because each and every time we have to do things one step at a time. This would be a major step, because it will enable us to ensure that the five years beyond 2007 would be a government elected by an arrangement more liberal and more democratic than the one we have now. I want to enlarge the electorate for the election of the Chief Executive. I want to make the Legislative Council electorate more representative of Hong Kong. Make it more democratic. We have to build up this consensus within the community to make this major step, upon which we can build the foundation and talk about universal suffrage. If we fail to do this step, how do you expect us to come up with a better consensus in 2012, which in fact is another five years away? That was my point.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, December 1, 2005
Issued at HKT 15:54
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