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Following is the English portion of the transcript of the media session by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (Tuesday) to announce the appointment of the next Executive Council Convenor:

Mr Tung: I have an announcement to make. Dr S Y Chung will be retiring on June 30 as a member of the Executive Council and as a Convenor of the Executive Council. His position will be taken over by Mr C Y Leung.

Dr Chung started making his contribution to the community in the 1960's. In his thirty to forty years of community work in Hong Kong, he contributed a great deal to the overall development of Hong Kong, particularly in areas of industrial development, in areas of medical care and education. I think his success is really for everyone to see.

At the time of the return of Hong Kong, because I wanted his experience and his wisdom, I was able to persuade him to come out of retirement and to help me and to help the SAR by becoming an Executive Council Member and also the Convenor. At that time we both agreed that he would serve until June 30, 1999.

In the two years since Hong Kong's return, the SAR Government has faced many challenges, and with his experience and his political sensitivity, he has made a major contribution to the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong during the last two years. I am very grateful to Dr Chung. In most critical and important times, he was able to give his very well thought-out opinion and advice to me and to my colleagues.

As far as Mr C Y Leung is concerned, he has been working for the community for many years before and after the return of Hong Kong. I'm sure that based on his wealth of experience and also his commitment to the community as a whole, that he will make valuable contributions in the years ahead. The vacancy left over by Dr Chung's retirement will not be filled at this moment.

I made this announcement to you today and I had a good chat with the Executive Council Members and they all fully supported the decision I made.

Reporter: Mr Tung, just now you mentioned that you had taken into account many considerations before you made the appointment. Can you just elaborate on the considerations?

Mr Tung: Well, you know there are really many many considerations as to the strengths and the weaknesses of each person, as to his ability to contribute to our community, particularly at this time. It was after a lot of thought and some consultation process that I came to this conclusion. Thank you very much.

Chief Executive's transcript (Chinese Version)

End/Tuesday, June 15, 1999

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