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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, at a media session after attending the opening ceremony of "Hong Kong 200" Leadership Project 2013 today (July 27):
Reporter: Why are you only declaring your interest now? Are you worried about that you will end up like Chan (the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan)?
Secretary for Education: As I said earlier, it is my part of negligence in delaying the closure of my own company, which is a consultancy firm, and causing the missing of the reporting to the declaration of interest system. When I realised it, I immediately speeded up the whole process of closure including the de-registration. I just want to emphasise that and I apologise sincerely for this particular negligence. On the other hand, the company which I owned actually had ceased operation three months before I reported for duty officially on July 1 last year, so there should have no particular relationship at all in terms of conflict of interest.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, July 27, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:08
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