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Following is the transcript of the remarks by the Information Coordinator (IC), Mr. Stephen Lam, to the media in Beijing today (March 5):

IC: Some of you have requested a response by the SAR Government with regard to the work report presented by the Premier in the National People's Congress today. I'd like to mention a number of points.

Firstly, the Premier has mentioned that during the 9th Five-Year Report period, the Central Government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, and that's "one country, two systems" have been faithfully and fully implemented in Hong Kong.

Hereafter the HKSAR Government will firmly implement the Basic Law and make further contribution to the development of the country and to promote the further development of Hong Kong itself.

Secondly, I'd like to mention that the common thread running through most of the 10th Five-Year Report is the concept of economic development and further opening up of the country. In this particular regard the SAR Government has for a long time been tracking and monitoring policy development on this front in the mainland. That's why the Chief Executive visited Guangdong in December last year, and recently he has also presented a comprehensive policy statement on our co-operation with the Pearl River Delta to the General Chamber of Commerce. Hereafter, we'll continue to pursue closer development of our relationship and cooperation with the Pearl River Delta, so as to further Hong Kong's economic interest.

The third point I would like to mention is that the Premier placed some emphasis on the importance of service industries and the development of professional expertise in the mainland. On both these counts, Hong Kong has a competitive edge. It is our intention to continue the promotion of Hong Kong's service industries and professional services following the accession of the country to the WTO, so it's clear that on the one hand we have tracked development of policies and economic development in the mainland, and on the other hand we have developed corresponding policies within the Hong Kong SAR to complement these developments.

Information Coordinator's transcript (Chinese part)

End/Monday, March 5, 2001

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