Following is the transcript of the media session by the SAR Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, after visiting the Stonecutters Naval Base of the PLA Garrison in the HKSAR this (Wednesday) morning:

Question: Mr Tung, in the life with the Hong Kong people in Hong Kong, to what extent are the PLA responsible to you and to what extent of their responsibility to the Central Government in Beijing?

Mr Tung: Well, the PLA is in Hong Kong to demonstrate the sovereignty of China over Hong Kong. And PLA is in Hong Kong to carry out defence responsibility if there is any need. So far as their responsibility is concerned, they of course report directly to the authorities in the Central in Beijing. If there is any need for me to request assistance from the PLA, for instance, to help in any storm or landslide, I have to ask the Central Government for such assistance.

Question: And if there is an internal security matter as well, if you require them to help in the internal security ...?

Mr Tung: Yes, absolutely.