*****************************************************
Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, at a media session on the proposed establishment of the Innovation and Technology Bureau (ITB) after attending the Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting today (July 8):
Reporter: Many of the pan-democrats expressed that they are against increasing the meetings of the Finance Committee. Do you think there is a chance that the proposal on ITB can be passed before the summer?
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: I don't really want at this point of time to estimate when the Finance Committee would pass the proposals to establish the Innovation and Technology Bureau. But I would like to work together with LegCo members to push ahead our work and through communication to establish the Innovation and Technology Bureau as soon as possible, which is really in keeping with the wishes of the sector as well as the people of Hong Kong. I don't think there is any dispute about the importance of innovation and technology and its impact on our economy. I think it's really the different emphases that (are) placed upon the work of this bureau. And hopefully through communication we can resolve some of these differences.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:25
NNNN
