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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session after attending Commercial Radio's programme "Beautiful Sunday" this morning (June 14):
Reporter: Is there any last-minute concessions that you can make? And just now you said during the programme there is very slim chance that it could be passed, how do you personally feel about this?
Chief Secretary for Administration: I don't think there is any last-minute concession that could be made. The position has been made extremely clear by the Central Authorities as well as the Hong Kong SAR Government. What is now before our Legislative Council members, especially the 27 pan-democratic members, is we have a package of proposals which is in line with the Basic Law and the decision made by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, and which we truly believe will enable Hong Kong's democratic development to make a big step forward. So I make this final appeal to the pan-democratic members that they should take into account the broad and long-term interest of Hong Kong and change their mind and support the Government's package. There are still a few days to go, I hope that they would seriously consider the various factors and do what is right and what is good for Hong Kong.
As far as my own personal experience and feelings, of course, having spent a lot of time and efforts and attention on this subject of constitutional development in the last 20 months, it is indeed a great pity not to be able to deliver "one person, one vote" for the 5 million eligible voters in Hong Kong. So there is indeed this sadness which I have expressed on several occasions. But I hope to assure members of the public that regardless of the outcome of this voting in a few days’ time, the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to press ahead with economic development as well as a range of livelihood issues which the people of Hong Kong would want the Government to really put in more attention and efforts. In other words, we do hope to put aside this political development issue for a while so that we could concentrate on dealing with the other more pressing or equally pressing issues.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Sunday, June 14, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:22
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MP4 format