Transcript of remarks by CE at media session (with video)
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     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session after attending the Belt and Road Innovation and Development Forum today (November 3):
 
Reporter: Mrs Lam, how do you feel about the ongoing filibustering in LegCo? And in your speech just now, do you mean that you are going to wait until November 15 before deciding on whether to kick-start the "Three-step Process" to introduce the co-location plan?
 
Chief Executive: Well, at the moment we are very confident and very hopeful that when Legislative Council meets on the 15th of November to continue their discussion on the Government motion on the co-location arrangement that it will be put to vote and hopefully passed, because I have already explained in Cantonese that the Legislative Council President has made two rulings - one is of course he has concluded the debate on the co-location motion itself and was about to invite the officials to speak, and once the officials have spoken, the motion would proceed to voting. The other is regarding the filibustering technique of invoking Rule 88(1) of the Rules of Procedure by one of the non-pro-establishment members; the President has also drawn a line allowing another 30 minutes of discussion. So taking both into account, it is only normal that the debate should come to an end at the seating on the 15th of November, and having considered that in the context of our legislative work, I do feel that we could wait for the motion to be passed on the 15th of November. How do I feel about the filibustering? I feel very sad, very disappointed and very frustrated as many members in society have told me, they are very hopeful about this term of the Hong Kong SAR Government. They really want us to do a lot of things for the people of Hong Kong. And hence in my maiden Policy Address, I have outlined no less than 200 initiatives that we want to pursue. Many of these initiatives will require funding approval by the Legislative Council, or amendments to legislation to be approved by the Legislative Council. But if the Legislative Council is not possible to conduct its normal business, then the chances of our taking forward these efforts will be significantly compromised, and that makes me feel very sad because I’ve just mentioned I have just completed fully the appointment of the politically appointed officials with 12 Under Secretaries and 14 Political Assistants. As a team, we all want to serve the people of Hong Kong, so I make this plea to the non-pro-establishment members of the Legislative Council - please give us a chance to serve the people of Hong Kong. Thank you very much.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
 

Ends/Friday, November 3, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:12

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