Transcript of CE's remarks on Guangdong visit by LegCo
Members
******************************************************* Following are the opening remarks (translation) by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, and the transcript of the questions and answers session (English portion) this afternoon (August 30) on the visit by LegCo Members to Guangdong:
Chief Executive: Good afternoon. Promoting relations and communications between the Central Government and the Legislative Council, and enhancing social harmony are two priorities on my policy agenda. I have been working hard for more than two months since taking up the post of Chief Executive in order to deliver my pledges.
Meanwhile, I have also been working hard for the further prosperity of Hong Kong. As we all agree, the economic advancement of Hong Kong is inseparable from the progress of our country, and of the Pearl River Delta region in particular.
Therefore, I put these ideas together and proposed to the Central Government that I invite all 60 Legco Members on a visit to the Pearl River Delta region. I am pleased that the Central Government has accepted my proposal and will arrange for the visit of all the LegCo Members to visit several cities in Guangdong from September 25 to 26. I have just sent out my invitation to the Members. It is my hope that they can make use of this opportunity and adopt a pragmatic approach to promote exchange, mutual understanding and trust.
This arrangement bears testimony to the Central Government¡¦s support for and goodwill towards Hong Kong. Thanks to the leaders of Guangdong Province for kindly making arrangements to receive the Legco Members and brief them on the latest developments in Guangdong and the concept of Pan-Pearl River Delta cooperation.
Indeed, I have said many times during my election campaign that it required full understanding between Hong Kong and the Mainland to sustain substantial progress on various sensitive issues. The Central Government has made every effort to understand the real situation of Hong Kong, and we must do the same to lay the basis of mutual trust for discussions on sensitive issues.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Getting into the Pearl River Delta, though it might seem a small step, is a gigantic stride towards a relationship of mutual trust and understanding. I hope all Legco Members can take the first successful step with me.
Reporter: (Inaudible)
Chief Executive: It will include all Members of the Legislative Council, including members of the Democratic Party, the Alliance, the Liberal Party and the DAB. All of them will be invited. All 60 members will be invited.
Reporter: (Inaudible)
Chief Executive: Well I have just issued an invitation to all Members of the Legislative Council to accompany me to visit the Pearl River Delta for two days, including one night, on September 25 and 26. We will be visiting Guangzhou together with a few other cities in the Pearl River Delta and we will be received by the leadership of Guangdong Province and we will be given a briefing on the latest developments in the Pearl River Delta and the strategy for Pan-Pearl River Delta development. So it will be a very good opportunity for Members of the Legislative Council to get first-hand information on what is happening in the Mainland and at the same time, I am sure that Members will seize this opportunity to cultivate personal relationships and at the same time pave the way to undertake further visits.
Reporter: ¡Kany national leaders ¡K?
Chief Executive: Well as I said, we will be meeting the provincial authority, including Party Secretary Mr Zhang Dejiang, who is a national leader.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Members
******************************************************* Following are the opening remarks (translation) by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, and the transcript of the questions and answers session (English portion) this afternoon (August 30) on the visit by LegCo Members to Guangdong:
Chief Executive: Good afternoon. Promoting relations and communications between the Central Government and the Legislative Council, and enhancing social harmony are two priorities on my policy agenda. I have been working hard for more than two months since taking up the post of Chief Executive in order to deliver my pledges.
Meanwhile, I have also been working hard for the further prosperity of Hong Kong. As we all agree, the economic advancement of Hong Kong is inseparable from the progress of our country, and of the Pearl River Delta region in particular.
Therefore, I put these ideas together and proposed to the Central Government that I invite all 60 Legco Members on a visit to the Pearl River Delta region. I am pleased that the Central Government has accepted my proposal and will arrange for the visit of all the LegCo Members to visit several cities in Guangdong from September 25 to 26. I have just sent out my invitation to the Members. It is my hope that they can make use of this opportunity and adopt a pragmatic approach to promote exchange, mutual understanding and trust.
This arrangement bears testimony to the Central Government¡¦s support for and goodwill towards Hong Kong. Thanks to the leaders of Guangdong Province for kindly making arrangements to receive the Legco Members and brief them on the latest developments in Guangdong and the concept of Pan-Pearl River Delta cooperation.
Indeed, I have said many times during my election campaign that it required full understanding between Hong Kong and the Mainland to sustain substantial progress on various sensitive issues. The Central Government has made every effort to understand the real situation of Hong Kong, and we must do the same to lay the basis of mutual trust for discussions on sensitive issues.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Getting into the Pearl River Delta, though it might seem a small step, is a gigantic stride towards a relationship of mutual trust and understanding. I hope all Legco Members can take the first successful step with me.
Reporter: (Inaudible)
Chief Executive: It will include all Members of the Legislative Council, including members of the Democratic Party, the Alliance, the Liberal Party and the DAB. All of them will be invited. All 60 members will be invited.
Reporter: (Inaudible)
Chief Executive: Well I have just issued an invitation to all Members of the Legislative Council to accompany me to visit the Pearl River Delta for two days, including one night, on September 25 and 26. We will be visiting Guangzhou together with a few other cities in the Pearl River Delta and we will be received by the leadership of Guangdong Province and we will be given a briefing on the latest developments in the Pearl River Delta and the strategy for Pan-Pearl River Delta development. So it will be a very good opportunity for Members of the Legislative Council to get first-hand information on what is happening in the Mainland and at the same time, I am sure that Members will seize this opportunity to cultivate personal relationships and at the same time pave the way to undertake further visits.
Reporter: ¡Kany national leaders ¡K?
Chief Executive: Well as I said, we will be meeting the provincial authority, including Party Secretary Mr Zhang Dejiang, who is a national leader.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:44
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