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Follows is a transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, to reporters in Washington D.C. today (October 27, Washington time):
Chief Executive: This is my second working day in DC. The first item of work today, following church, was a breakfast meeting with The Heritage Foundation, the whole array of the leadership in the Heritage Foundation. They know Hong Kong very well. I merely updated them on the latest events on the economic and political front over the past six months. I also mentioned the Policy Address, which I delivered on the 12th, its contents and its main themes. I also outlined to them the contents of the Report No. 5 on constitutional development. They showed keen interest and were supportive. We discussed other issues as well throughout the breakfast. It was a very good meeting. The Heritage Foundation is coming again to Hong Kong before too long.
I then went to see the Vice President. We had an excellent meeting for just over half an hour. First of all, I updated him on the implementation of 'One Country, Two Systems' and the Basic Law in Hong Kong over the last eight years, against the backdrop of severe economic setback. And, I also told him how the economy is now recovering quite well. His reaction was that overall development is 'so far, so good' in Hong Kong.
I also updated him on the content of Report No. 5 on constitutional development, particularly the proposals under which we are going to advance democracy in Hong Kong. His reaction was quite positive. He said it was a welcome change.
Then we canvassed other subjects including the preventive measures we are taking in Hong Kong against avian flu and then also the latest developments on intellectual property rights protection.
I then invited him to come to Hong Kong. He responded quite enthusiastically, saying he had not been to Hong Kong for a while, the last time was merely a hop-over. He wished very much to do so, and take up my invitation. That's about it.
Reporter: Do you have any sense of what the VP meant when he said a 'welcome change'?
Chief Executive: It was in the context of my description of the latest package of proposals on constitutional reform, Report No. 5.
Reporter: Did he expand at all?
Chief Executive: No. He reacted very favourably, very positively but he was not a voluble person, he spoke sparingly. But I thought it was quite a positive response.
Reporter: Did you get a chance to talk about China-US relations?
Chief Executive: Yes we touched on that subject. I just updated him on my own perceptions on the affairs across the Strait. And I also told him I believed there is a golden opportunity to develop a much closer relationship between the two powers. That would be to the benefit of the rest of the world, particularly Hong Kong.
Reporter: I wonder if you have any reaction, after the meeting with Hyde...... [on agency reports that Mr Hyde and members of the House Committee on International Relations were disappointed with the progress of democracy in Hong Kong].
Chief Executive: Francis, you were there, and you saw everything. That report that came over AFP has yet to be verified. Apparently it came from one of his, I do not know the person, his communications director. We had the opportunity of having breakfast with the senior aide of Chairman Hyde today. He sat next to me. He said he found no foundation on what the report was, and that he would return and clarify it.
Reporter: I know nothing about the AFP report but I did report myself...... [on the contents of a speaking note prepared for chairman Hyde].
Chief Executive: Clearly, Chairman Hyde, rejected that speaking note. He did not use that at all. What he used was exactly what he said. That was what happened.
Reporter: What did he say exactly?
Chief Executive: Well, you were present.
Reporter: But I was not present when he said it again afterwards.
Chief Executive: He said it was good progress, an advancement. It was a speaking note prepared for him. For that, let me clarify the issue - then it must be a speaking note he thought was inappropriate and he rejected it. He did not use it.
Reporter: Have anyone expressed any concerns to you [in your discussions]?
Chief Executive: Not that I have noticed at all. In fact, I was very candid about the content of our proposals contained in the constitutional report No 5. And I explained the background to it and the consultations that had taken place in the preparation of that report. And all the responses I have had so far were very positive. I have not heard a single word of concern so far. Isn't that clear, I think that was very clear.
Reporter: Could you just characterise the tenure of the meeting with the Vice President?
Chief Executive: Very cordial and very friendly, very positive.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, October 28, 2005
Issued at HKT 01:55
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