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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, at a media session after attending a public function this afternoon (January 17):
Reporter: Mr Lai,would you mind to explain why would the re-location scheme be complicated as it involves children whose parents are not Hong Kongers and people who are holding one-way permit. How many people do you estimate would benefit from this proposal?
Secretary for Security: We have no exact estimation of the number of persons who would like to do so. From time to time, we receive representations from interest groups and from legislators, district councillors about the problems that new immigrants face after they have come to Hong Kong and because once they are issued the one-way permit, their household registration will be cancelled. So we believe that improving the existing arrangements will be beneficial despite the number of persons who find themselves having problems in settling down in Hong Kong (is not known). This would be beneficial not only to the person concerned but also to their families and that is the reason why the relevant authorities in the Mainland as well as the Hong Kong SAR Government consider that we should look into this area and try to propose some workable solutions. This is a bit complicated and I cannot explain to you in detail within a few seconds but as some of the reporters have pointed out, there are some difficulties that we have to overcome.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, January 17, 2015
Issued at HKT 20:04
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