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Following is a question by the Hon Claudia Mo and a written reply by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, in the Legislative Council today (November 28):
Question:
Some reporters have relayed to me that the media reporting arrangements in the new Central Government Complex (new CGC) since its commissioning are a retrogression compared with those in the former Central Government Offices (CGO). For example, reporters have to make a detour and go through many doors when commuting between the East and West Wings of the new CGC. This is particularly inconvenient to television reporters carrying bulky video recording equipment. In addition, at present, the ground floor lobby of the Office of the Chief Executive (CE Office) is open to reporters generally only during the time when the Executive Council (ExCo) is having a meeting, but quite a number of ExCo Members often enter and leave the conference room using an access which is not visible to reporters. As a result, photojournalists are unable even to take shots of ExCo Members coming downstairs from the conference room, and reporters also find it difficult to conduct interviews with ExCo Members and officials. As a result, reporters are unable to monitor the work of the Government and the public's right to know is thus undermined. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it will allow reporters to use the direct access linking the East and West Wings of the new CGC, and open the gate of the West Wing for use by reporters to facilitate their reporting in the new CGC;
(b) whether it will make reference to the relevant arrangements in the former CGO, and allow reporters to go to the staff canteen for meals direct through the access between the West Wing of the new CGC and the canteen;
(c) whether it will open up the ground floor lobby of the CE Office to reporters during the time when there is no ExCo meeting, so as to give reporters the opportunities to interview officials entering or leaving that place during such time, just like the arrangements in the former CGO; and
(d) whether it will require ExCo Members to use the main entrance when they attend ExCo meetings and to cease using the access which is not visible to reporters, so that reporters will have the opportunities to interview ExCo Members and to monitor their attendance at meetings (including whether they are absent from or late for the meeting, or leave the meeting early)?
Reply:
President,
The Administration attaches great importance to press freedom, and has made every effort to facilitate media reporting in a bid to enhance transparency of policy implementation. With the commissioning of the new Central Government Offices (new CGO), the Administration has adopted corresponding measures to facilitate media reporting, taking into account three major factors, namely the operational needs of the new CGO, the arrangements for media reporting, and the flow and order of people there. For example, two designated press areas have been set up, one each at the East Wing and West Wing lobbies, with a reporters' passageway connecting the two Wings to facilitate media reporting. The passageway links up the lobbies of the East and West Wings and adjacent to it is a reporters' room with audio-visual and WiFi facilities, etc for use by the media. In addition, audio-visual facilities are available for the media at the above two designated press areas, the G/F auditorium and the 2/F Conference Hall. With a view to providing further convenience to the media while using the passageway, particularly reporters who carry bulky video recording equipment, the Administration Wing has been planning to carry out improvement works to install hold-open devices for certain fire doors of the passageway so that the doors will be kept open by electrical devices in times of non-emergency. Upon communication with the Hong Kong Journalists Association, improvement works have commenced and they are expected to complete before the end of this year.
The Administration's reply to the question is as follows:
(a) & (b) The ground-floor concourse between the East and West Wing lobbies serves as a common foyer to a number of major conference rooms in the new CGO. Given that staff members and attendees of meetings often gather at the concourse and that not all meetings are open for public participation or press coverage, it is not appropriate to open up the concourse to non-attendees of meetings. The gate at the West Wing is a vehicular access. In general, reporters taking press vehicles or taxis and holding valid CGO press cards may enter the West Wing lobby through the gate. There is a staff entrance adjacent to the vehicular gate at the West Wing. As this access directly leads to the Chief Executive's Office (CE's Office), as a matter of security, it is normally open to staff with valid staff identity cards only.
The turnstiles at the West Wing lobby are staff access to various floors (including the offices of a number of bureaux and offices). On account of operation and security, it is inappropriate to open up the passage for media use. Nevertheless, since the commissioning of the new CGO, media members can access the staff canteen on 1/F through the lobby of the East Wing, if they need any food and beverages.
(c) & (d) The current Administration has taken new measures in opening up the ground floor lobby of the CE's Office for the purpose of press coverage when the Executive Council (ExCo) is in meeting. There is also a common room in the press area for media use. The above new measures were implemented to provide as much press facilitation as we can so that reporters intending to wait until the end of an ExCo meeting may stay away from any unfavourable weather conditions and have a place for taking a break.
Corresponding facilities and arrangements for media coverage are in place in all government offices, including the East and West Wings of the new CGO. They are meant for facilitating the media in their coverage of government officials working there, having taken into account operational and security concerns. The Administration has no intention to alter the current practice.
ExCo Members may use any access of their own choice when entering or leaving the CGO. That said, the Administration will continue to encourage Members to use the main entrance when entering or leaving the CE's Office.
Ends/Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:00
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