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The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:
Following is a transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo), Mr Ronald Arculli, at a media session outside the Chief Executive's Office at Tamar today (October 4):
Reporter: How was the Executive Council meeting today now that CY Leung has stepped down as the Convenor? Is there any candidate you are supporting?
Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members: I think as far as the meeting is concerned, business was as usual. The Executive Council is a very mature institution. We carried on business as usual. On your second question, as far as I am aware, there isn't any candidate that has declared yet.
Reporter: What do you make of the criticism of Mr Stephen Lam's appointment?
Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members: I think when you are in a position where you handle some of the more difficult and controversial issues facing Hong Kong and the community, you'll be lucky to win some friends some of the time but you can't please all the people all the time. We are a very open community. Criticisms or views that are constructive are obviously welcome. Criticisms for the sake of criticism may not be considered to be too fair.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:02
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