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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the Main Wing lobby, Central Government Offices this (March 15) afternoon:
Chief Executive: I am very happy to receive a report from the Board of KCRC resolving the division of responsibility between the Chairman and the Chief Executive. This has been an issue raised by the Chief Executive last week and there has been a submission of resignation letter to me by the Chairman. As you know, I am always in support of a high sense of accountability and high degree of transparency in the operation of a public entity such as the KCRC. And in this regard, the Chairman receives my support. Having resolved this now the division of responsibility between himself and the Chief Executive, I have asked the Chairman to withdraw his letter of resignation which he gave me last Saturday and he has agreed to do so. I support the way in which the Board has decided to resolve this disagreement. I am sure that the Chairman and the Chief Executive, whom I saw earlier today and who made personal undertaking to me, would continue to perform the duty in the best interest of Hong Kong and in the best interest of the KCRC. During the course of resolving this problem, we have discovered there are personnel and disciplinary issues, and this, to me, is very serious. Therefore, I have asked the Board to look into this matter as soon as possible. Thank you.
Reporter: … You mentioned the disciplinary matters and you have asked them to look into it. Can you elaborate on that and do you expect a report on that?
Chief Executive: I expect a report as soon as possible. These issues arose during the course of the deliberation of the Board. I consider these matters very serious.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:08
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