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Following is a transcript of a media stand-up session by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, after a meeting with the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of District Councils today (January 17).
Reporter: What did you discuss and what was the response of the councillors?
Chief Secretary for Administration: Very quickly, we spent actually quite a bit of time discussing the West Kowloon Cultural District. We went through a three-month public engagement exercise, the message we got was actually very much the same as the message we got today, which is that the community is generally very supportive of the Government developing the West Kowloon area into a cultural district, and they also support the setting up of an authority in order to give it the greatest latitude and freedom in terms of developing a world-class cultural district. They are also very supportive of the lump sum grant so that it will demonstrate the Government¡¦s commitment to this cultural district, commitment to the development of cultural and artistic venues as well as a certainty in their development.
Reporter: What about the political reform?
Chief Secretary for Administration: Many of them welcome and are supportive of the NPCSC decision and now our primary responsibility is that we want, as far as 2012 is concerned, to formulate a set of proposals that will get wide support as well as further democratisation. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Thursday, January 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:52
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