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Chairman of the EOC Chairperson Selection Board: Mr Tsang Kin-ping, Selection Board member, actually mentioned that as somebody who has no relationship with the Government, he felt that the whole selection process has really identified the best person for the job.
Reporter: (On the appointment of a former high-ranking Government official as the Chairperson)
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: I think having been a senior Government official is certainly an asset rather than a liability for the job, because one of the criteria for the job is that he or she should possess the necessary management skills at very senior positions. Because as you know, the EOC is, in itself, a major organisation in Hong Kong not only in terms of its size but also in terms of the importance of the portfolio that you have to manage on the basis of the existing four legislations. So I would say that having held a very senior position in the Government would certainly help the Chairperson's job. As Dr Leong has mentioned, according to our understanding, Dr Chow has also applied to the relevant consultation committee chaired by Mr Moses Cheng which has very carefully looked at the application, and the committee is satisfied that there is no real or apparent conflict of interest, and in their view it shouldn't create any misperception about the impartiality of Dr Chow to be appointed as the Chairperson. So I think this concern should not be a real concern as such.
Reporter: (On whether the appointment has anything to do with constitutional or Mainland affairs)
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: Don't be misled by my title. It's a very short title, covering only constitutional and Mainland affairs. In fact, I also handle Taiwan affairs as well as the human rights portfolio. Equal opportunities actually fall under the human rights portfolio and I have two teams of staff working in this area as well. On the human rights side, we are acting on the basis of existing legislation to handle the appointment. There is absolutely no question of the Central Government being involved one way or another. From the very beginning to the very end, they have absolutely no role at all. It is purely within our autonomy to handle this matter.
Reporter: (On the remarks of Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Fu Ying yesterday)
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: I think since the handover, both the Central Authorities and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government have both repeatedly emphasised the importance of ruling Hong Kong in full accordance with the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, which is actually realised in the detailed provisions of the Basic Law. So what I guess the Vice Minister mentioned yesterday was meant to double-underline this very principle that we have been upholding in the past 15 or 16 years so far.
Reporter: (On the number of females or minorities among the finalists)
Chairman of the EOC Chairperson Selection Board: I don't think it is the convention that the Selection Board should reveal the details of the persons who are not finally selected in the whole process. It will be unfair to them. I don't think this should be the convention, because ultimately it is what process we went through to get the best person, and ultimately we propose this person to the Chief Executive which is more important.
Reporter: (On the pay of the Chairperson)
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: The detail I would ask my Press Secretary to give you, but I can tell you that the Chairperson is a full-time job. We are paying him the equivalent of a D8 Directorate Officer's salary which at the current rate should be $219,200 per month.
Reporter: (On whether Dr Chow is receiving in addition any other honorarium from his previous service in the Government)
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: I am not sure whether he is a pensionable officer, because this is certainly not a concern as the EOC as of now is not subject to any restriction as I understand. But I would verify and maybe my Press Secretary would give you further information on that. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:00
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