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Reporter: How would you propose to ensure both to maintain functional constituencies and also to maintain Hong Kong peopleˇ¦s equal right to be elected?
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: At this stage, the Administration has not taken a view on the future of functional constituencies nor have we taken a view on how we should implement universal suffrage for forming the legislature in 2020. Our focus now is on dealing with the electoral methods for forming the legislature in 2012 and for returning the CE in that year. How we deal with functional constituencies is a more long term problem which we will need to address after 2012.
Reporter: Why hasn't the Government been out there be seen to be assertively and aggressively defending its own long-standing policy and its political appointees on the question of passports?
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: Actually, the Government has made clear our position in the course of the last week or so. The Chief Secretary, myself and other colleagues have stated very clearly that according to the Basic Law, Secretaries of the Government and other Principal Officials are required to be Chinese nationals with no foreign right of abode. This position applies and will continue to apply. Under Secretaries only need to be permanent residents of Hong Kong and according to the Basic Law, they can be appointed. Today, an individual colleague has already communicated with the media that having regard to public opinion, he has decided to state clearly his foreign right of abode and his position to apply for that to be rescinded. The principles of the Basic Law are very clear and this Government will not waver from that legal and constitutional position. But individual colleagues are free to make their individual decisions.
Reporter: ... Why cannot you be aggressively defending and protecting your own political appointees for such an important part of your constitutional development? ...
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: We have stated very clearly the position of the Basic Law and we have repeatedly explained that we have every faith, every confidence in the batch of new recruits to fill positions of Under Secretaries and Political Assistants that they have a firm commitment to serve the people of Hong Kong. Our position on the constitutional and legal implications of political appointments will not waver.
Reporter: You mentioned that a certain Under Secretary has today, having taken into account the community's views, rescinded his foreign nationality. Does that mean other Under Secretaries who do not rescind their foreign nationality are not listening to the community's views?
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: I am sure that all our colleagues who are Under Secretaries will be very lively and very sensitive to public opinions. They are also, of course, fully aware of the provisions of the Basic Law. As far as the Government is concerned, these appointments have been made in full compliance with existing policies and constitutional, legal provisions. It is up to individual colleagues to decide on their foreign right of abode. The Administration will respect any individual decisions made.
Reporter: Future appointees or potential appointees may very well look at what is happening now and say to themselves ˇV if I want to accept high position, whatever it may be, I can't do this unless I am to burn all my bridges behind me. Is this the message you really want to send?
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: I think for future political appointees, who are going to become Under Secretaries, they will all consider very closely their commitment to serving the people of Hong Kong and whether they wish to pursue this particular political career. I am sure that we will continue to be able to attract many capable colleagues to join the Administration.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Thursday, May 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 21:14
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