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In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Chief Executive's Office issued the following statement today (July 21):

The HKSAR Government is fully committed to the protection of academic freedom. This is an important foundation of the free society which Hong Kong represents.

In this connection, we welcome the statement made by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong today affirming the University's commitment to academic freedom. The Vice-Chancellor has also confirmed that the Chief Executive has never expressed any views to the University regarding opinion polls and has not requested the University to stop conducting these polls.

Following the establishment of the independent commission of enquiry by the University of Hong Kong, the Chief Executive's Office will cooperate with the Commission so that we can assist the Commission to obtain a complete understanding of this incident and to provide the public with a full account.

End/Friday, July 21, 2000

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