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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, at a media session today (May 8) at the West Wing lobby, Central Government Offices, Tamar:
Reporter: What is the point of bringing in more board directors? There are speculations that you want to step down. Is that true?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: First of all, the purpose of the Government, both as Government, because we are the regulator of the railway service, and as the majority shareholder of the MTR Corporation, we realise that there is widespread concern within the community about the governance situation of the Corporation. We feel that it is important that steps should be taken to strengthen the MTR Corporation Board. In this respect, we are going to nominate additional Board Members (Directors) to the Corporation. The details of course will only be released after we have followed through the established procedure for the addition of new Directors. We have to realise that the MTR Corporation is a listed company. So we have to do things strictly in accordance with the Companies Ordinance and the Articles of Association of the Corporation.
Now as to your second question, I understand that there is rumour that I will step down. I will not comment on any rumour. What I can say is, as I said during the Railways Subcommittee (Subcommittee on Matters Relating to Railways) meeting of the LegCo (Legislative Council) on May 5, in my political life, I know there are occasions where one faces huge challenges, paradoxes and one has to sometimes make hard choices. Over this particular incident, I have been reflecting on the rights and wrongs of what I have done. But in the meanwhile, my most immediate task is to make sure that the (Hong Kong section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong) Express Rail (Link) project will proceed as quickly as possible, to have any delay minimised as far as possible and to work with the MTR Corporation to reduce any possible cost overrun. As to the details of course we have to wait until we have worked through all the pertinent issues within Government and with the Corporation. But I can assure you that even though we are undergoing this very unfortunate saga, our efforts in making sure that the project will proceed will not be affected.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, May 8, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:22
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