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Following is the transcript of the statement and question and answer by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, (English portion) during the stand-up session held at the Central Government Offices this (July 14) evening:

I have never asked anyone in the University of Hong Kong to request Dr. Robert Chung to stop conducting his opinion polls. Neither have I asked anyone to convey any such message to the University of Hong Kong.

I affirm that the Government fully respects academic freedom and will not interfere with academic research. We all recognize the importance of protecting academic research and academic freedom because this is a very important foundation of our success.

In Hong Kong, all persons, universities and other institutions are free to conduct opinion polls as they have been doing all these years.

Reporter: Have you or have you not expressed your dislike towards opinion polls conducted by Dr Chung?

Chief Executive: I have said again and again opinion polls are very important to us. We are taking opinion polls very very seriously because that is the very foundation for us to formulate good policies. We look at the opinion polls seriously. It's not a question you like or dislike it. You look at it seriously. You are leader of this territory. You look at these polls seriously because that is part of the way you formulate policies. We have to do what is good for the people of Hong Kong. We have to understand the feelings and this is why I say these opinion polls are so important to us.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)

End/Friday, July 14, 2000

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