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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, on the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014 at a media session in the Central Government Offices today (February 25):
Reporter: ...ended yesterday ... show your thought...
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development: I think it was very disappointing to me, especially, as I know that there were actually sufficient people in the room. But you know, that is the by-product of the filibuster and that is really irresponsible act of the pan-democrats of not being in the room. And that is what the electors elect them to do: to stay in the room to debate these issues of great importance to Hong Kong. So I think that was a very irresponsible act. But there is still chance. Next week there are three days. There is sufficient time, if there is no filibuster, to have this legislation passed. And we have time after time stated very clearly that there are lots of remaining items. These issues have not been consulted the public widely and they are contentious. That would need time to balance both sides, both the copyright owners as well as the netizens. I think this could be worked out given time. But so far as these packages concerned, we have laboured for a long time to reach these consensus. Let this package pass through and the consultation on these remaining issues will commence very quickly. Both legal bodies, the (Hong Kong) Bar Association as well as the Law Society (of Hong Kong), have called upon all the legislators to pass the existing bill. This is a very reasonable deal, very reasonable package. And consensus of which has already been reached. Don't waste this opportunity. We still have next week to pass this bill.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, February 25, 2016
Issued at HKT 20:56
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