*************************************************
Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at a media session at the ground floor lobby of the Chief Executive's Office at Tamar today (September 30):
Chief Executive: The Central People's Government announced today that it had approved the resignation of Mr Henry Tang as Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
On my recommendation, it has also approved the appointment of Mr Stephen Lam as Chief Secretary for Administration and Mr Raymond Tam as Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.
I am grateful for the Central Government's swift approval of the changes in the line-up of our Principal Officials in accordance with the Basic Law. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Henry again for his dedication in serving the community. I wish him every success in his future endeavours.
Our new Chief Secretary for Administration Stephen Lam has extensive experience in public service. Stephen has been serving as a Principal Official for almost a decade. He has tackled important and thorny issues, including having secured a timetable leading to the full implementation of universal suffrage in Hong Kong. He has also succeeded in making progress for the two sets of elections in 2012.
Stephen has achieved many breakthroughs in our co-operation with the Mainland. These include having the SAR's unique role firmly established in the National 12th Five-Year Plan; and fostering momentous growth in our ties with neighbouring Guangdong Province.
Stephen is a team player, and a man of resolve and perseverance. He is blessed with exceptional competence in planning and supervision. He can often accomplish difficult missions under tremendous pressure. In the next few months, Stephen will help me lead the policy bureaux to implement what I am going to put into my next Policy Address.
He will support me in preparing for a smooth handover between the current term and next term of government. We shall ensure a seamless transition of government next year.
As Chief Secretary, Stephen will chair major boards and committees, such as those for the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Community Care Fund.
Stephen's successor, Raymond Tam, served in the Administrative Service for years before he became Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs. He will bring with him a wealth of experience as he takes over as head of the bureau.
Raymond is competent and has outstanding inter-personal skills. As Director of the Chief Executive's Office, he has been most proficient in helping me manage my daily work over the past two years. At the same time, he has strengthened the administration's positive interaction with major political parties and various sectors. He is a consensus builder.
Raymond will oversee the several elections which are just around the corner. These electoral exercises will pave the way for full-scale universal suffrage in Hong Kong. He will also gear up the SAR's collaboration with the Mainland in a whole range of areas. These two missions are of far-reaching significance for Hong Kong's long-term development.
Given Raymond's extensive experience in politics and public administration, I am confident that he is the best person for the job.
I have appointed Professor Gabriel Leung to succeed Raymond as Director of the Chief Executive's Office. Gabriel has won high acclaim for his performance as Under Secretary for Food and Health. Over the past two years, he has shown considerable political talent, capable of building a good rapport with stakeholders from both within and outside the Government. I am sure he will rise to the new challenge and make signal contribution to his new post.
Stephen, Raymond and Gabriel have something in common. They are persons of great integrity, dependable, capable and passionate in serving Hong Kong. And they have persevered in adversity.
My team will strive till the very end of our term. This is not a slogan. This is my solemn pledge as Chief Executive. We mean what we say.
I'll now take a few questions, before I hand over the floor to the three appointees.
Thank you.
Reporter: The courts have ruled this morning in favour of the Filipino maids. What is the Government's response to that court ruling?
Chief Executive: Well, I am personally disappointed by the judgement, but have not read it in full yet. My colleagues are studying the judgement. One thing is quite clear: we are fully prepared for an adverse judgement at this stage, and for that reason we would be doing what we need to do. The Secretary for Security will make a full announcement and a full explanation of our position on what we are preparing to do later today.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, September 30, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:08
NNNN
Windows Media format
Flash format
