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Following is the English portion of the transcript of the response by the Information Coordinator, Mr Stephen Lam, to the media today (October 25) :
IC : I know that you are all interested in the issuing of the European Parliament report on Hong Kong and I like to take this opportunity to make a few preliminary responses. First of all, we think it is reassuring, we also welcome the acknowledgment on the part of the European Parliament confirming that "One Country, Two Systems" have been successfully implemented in Hong Kong and also acknowledgment on their part that the systems in Hong Kong have been maintained.
Also, we welcome the support given by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament that the European Union should offer visa free entry to HKSAR passport holders.
However, there are two points in this European Parliament report on which we disagree, and on which I wish to take this opportunity to respond to.
First of all, as regards the question of judicial independence, there are three points which are worth mentioning. Firstly, the interpretation given by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to help us resolve the issue of right of abode last year was entirely legal and constitutional. In a judgement given in December last year, the Court of Final Appeal has confirmed the authoritativeness and the legality of this interpretation.
Secondly, the power of final interpretation has been accepted by the Court of Final Appeal. We have also throughout this process respected the power of final adjudication on the part of the Court of Final Appeal. We have indeed allowed several thousand claimants to remain in Hong Kong. These are people who have filed claims with the Director of Immigration on or before 29 January 1999, i.e. the date by which the Court of Final Appeal issued its original judgement.
Thirdly, it is worthy for us to note that senior judges from Australia, from Britain, and from New Zealand continue to serve as part of the Court of Final Appeal in the capacity of Non-permanent Judges. This is the best proof of the confidence on the part of the international judicial community in Hong Kong's rule of law and our judicial independence.
As for the question of Hong Kong's open market and level playing field, I like to say that in the three years ever since the Reunification, the open market system and the level playing field have been firmly maintained in Hong Kong. I like to highlight three points. Firstly, the Heritage Foundation has rated Hong Kong as the freest economy in the world. Similar status has been accorded to Hong Kong by similar rating agencies. Secondly, the open tendering system operated by the Hong Kong Government in the HKSAR is fully compliant with the rules of the World Trade Organisation, and we continue to receive very competitive bids from international firms and local firms. Thirdly, we actually open up Hong Kong's economy on a sector by sector basis. The liberalisation of our telecommunications and broadcasting markets are cases in point. This process of opening up Hong Kong's economy on a sector by sector basis is very helpful to maintaining Hong Kong's position as a leading financial centre and leading business and commercial centre. So we can see all around us that firms from places like Europe, North America, Australia, all over Asia continue to invest in Hong Kong and this is the best proof that "One Country, Two Systems" is working well in Hong Kong and that our free market principles have been preserved.
Question:......a fair competition law in Hong Kong, and how do you respond to the EU's concern over the Li Ka-shing and his family......
IC: I think, as regards the question of competition, our position is that Hong Kong is already one of the freest economies in the world. We continue to liberalise Hong Kong's markets on a sector by sector basis. You have seen the impact of the liberalisation of the international telecommunications market in, you know, very substantial reductions in IDD rates for consumers and for people, companies which do business in Hong Kong. So far as the position of individual businessmen and individual companies doing business in Hong Kong are concerned, this is a free market. For those who have ideas, those who have capital, those who are willing to work hard, regardless of background, regardless of whether they are local or international, provided they comply with the laws of Hong Kong, they are welcome to do business here.
Question: How does the Government intend to address these concern and......?
IC: Well, my colleagues in Brussels, in the Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, have been in constant liaison with Members of the European Parliament, with the European Commission. And we will continue those efforts. We believe that the overall support given by the European countries to Hong Kong's continuation of "One Country, Two Systems" is basically fine, and is basically welcomed. But as regards the positions on judicial independence, rule of law, and the level playing field, I've given you my response, and my colleagues in Brussels will also give them that response over there. Thank you very much.
Information Coordinator's transcript (Chinese part)
End/Wednesday, October 25, 2000
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