CE's transcript in Washington
***************************** Follows is a transcript of remarks to reporters today (October 28, Washington time) by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, following his three-day visit to Washington:
Chief Executive: I just continued my work in Washington, D.C. This is the third day of my duty here. I had an editorial meeting with the Washington Post, I had a lunch discussion at the CSIS (the Center for Strategic and International Studies) and I met Secretary of State Rice.
These are very useful meetings - they enable me to exchange views on a whole host of issues. We discussed things like avian flu, MC6 and concerted efforts against terrorism. All of these are subjects close to the heart of Americans.
Of course, we discussed constitutional development. I have been very candid and frank with them. I explained to them the latest proposals in report 5 of Constitutional Development.
There have been different reactions - most of them very supportive of the measures we have taken to go forward in reaching universal suffrage.
As far as the speed of democratisation is concerned, we have some positive support. For instance, yesterday the Vice President was very supportive and very positive.
But there are others like Mrs Pelosi, who thought she must stick with the House resolution concerning democracy in Hong Kong. We did not engage in detailed discussion realising our positions are somewhat different.
I also had a discussion with Secretary of State Rice on this matter - on discussing democracy in general on the theoretical plane.
And I agree entirely with her that we should quickly discuss the form of the legislature, the constitutional legislature, under the universal suffrage system. We hadn't seemed to be discussing this. I told her, I assured her, that we are pursing this in the Commission for Strategic Development - there is a specific panel which I want to pursue this under the arrangement.
So overall, I believe I have completed my mission in Washington. I met as many think-tanks, many people in business, in government, and in Congress - as many as possible within the time available.
I have had exchanged views on all maters of common interest.
And I think I have dispelled certain misunderstandings among them - and in fact I can see the excitement among them concerning the rapid economic recovery of Hong Kong. I'm sure it might lead to further investment, further exchanges between Hong Kong and the United States.
On the whole, it was very busy, very occupied, but I think it was very worthwhile . . . It's all worthwhile.
Reporter: The State Department earlier today said that universal suffrage should, and could, come early - as early as 2007. I was wondering if Secretary Rice made similar comments during your meeting.
Chief Executive: Not specifically about 2007, but we discussed constitutional development in Hong Kong. This is a matter of common interest and I explained to her the latest proposal, report number five. But it is a decision, I must say, for Hong Kong people and for China to make. We are going to do what is necessary to meet the wishes of Hong Kong people.
I have received positive responses to the recommendations in report number five generally. But I had a useful exchange with Secretary Rice on this subject.
I have done a lot of soul searching. Of putting myself in the place of legislative councillors, particularly those opposing various proposals in the report number five. And I have concluded that there will be three particular questions they would want answered in going through this.
The first question is: Will the recommendations made in the report, if implemented, take us further toward universal suffrage? Are there any elements in the package that will be retrogressive steps in terms of democratisation? I think that would be the first question they would ask.
The second question they would ask is: Whether this package of recommendation has the support of the majority of Hong Kong people?
The third question perhaps is: If they turn down these recommendations, will they put Hong Kong in a better position to secure a better package - take us further into democratisation - make our process even faster toward democratisation, towards universal suffrage?
My answer is this: As regards to the first one, the proposal of enlarging the legislature - embracing more elected seats and indirectly elected seats certainly make the legislature more representative - move it closer toward universal suffrage in every respect. And there is no element in the recommendation which are retrogressive as far as democratisation is concerned.
The answer to the second question: Repeated polls in Hong Kong since the publication of report number five indicates that there is a majority support for the recommendations made.
The answer to the third question is that I am sure that if this package of proposals is rejected we are now going back to the status quo and the next opportunity for any further improvements to be made will be in the year 2012. And what is more, it would have demolished all the work we have done over the last two years, and the trust we have built among all parties in Hong Kong about progressing toward democratisation and understanding of the Central Authorities that Hong Kong is determined along this course.
So all in all I cannot find any rational reason why in the circumstances like this a Legislative Councillor should reject and oppose the recommendations of this package of proposals.
Reporter: The first question I get from members of LegCo is why isn't there a need for a timetable?
Chief Executive: We haven't yet discussed the way in which we are going to compose the legislature for the purpose of universal suffrage elections. We haven't addressed this issue at all. In fact, all the discussions with think-tanks suggest we should do this first and do it very quickly. And I am going to do that - I am going to pursue this question with the Commission on Strategic Development as soon as I return.
Reporter: You described in your speech last night immense interest in democracy in Hong Kong. Why should people here care so much about democracy for seven million people?
Chief Executive: American people believe in democracy and so do we. In fact, we have a constitutional duty to achieve universal suffrage in Hong Kong. The unfortunate thing is that we haven't got a rich history, a rich tradition, of doing it in Hong Kong. So this is a subject of common interest.
Reporter: But there are a lot of small countries that don't have the opportunity to visit the White House to discuss this issue. Why does there appear to be so much interest about Hong Kong?
Chief Executive: I do not want to say we are important, but essentially we are quite. In an economic sense, we are an international finance centre, perhaps the most import one in East Asia because of our uniqueness, because of the values of Hong Kong people, which are shared by many people in the United States - these are common traits and there is a common feeling.
I am sure the more we talk, the more access we have here, whether in the community in general, with senior officials or in Congress. I think we are useful for developing ties between the United States and Hong Kong - and with my country eventually.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
***************************** Follows is a transcript of remarks to reporters today (October 28, Washington time) by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, following his three-day visit to Washington:
Chief Executive: I just continued my work in Washington, D.C. This is the third day of my duty here. I had an editorial meeting with the Washington Post, I had a lunch discussion at the CSIS (the Center for Strategic and International Studies) and I met Secretary of State Rice.
These are very useful meetings - they enable me to exchange views on a whole host of issues. We discussed things like avian flu, MC6 and concerted efforts against terrorism. All of these are subjects close to the heart of Americans.
Of course, we discussed constitutional development. I have been very candid and frank with them. I explained to them the latest proposals in report 5 of Constitutional Development.
There have been different reactions - most of them very supportive of the measures we have taken to go forward in reaching universal suffrage.
As far as the speed of democratisation is concerned, we have some positive support. For instance, yesterday the Vice President was very supportive and very positive.
But there are others like Mrs Pelosi, who thought she must stick with the House resolution concerning democracy in Hong Kong. We did not engage in detailed discussion realising our positions are somewhat different.
I also had a discussion with Secretary of State Rice on this matter - on discussing democracy in general on the theoretical plane.
And I agree entirely with her that we should quickly discuss the form of the legislature, the constitutional legislature, under the universal suffrage system. We hadn't seemed to be discussing this. I told her, I assured her, that we are pursing this in the Commission for Strategic Development - there is a specific panel which I want to pursue this under the arrangement.
So overall, I believe I have completed my mission in Washington. I met as many think-tanks, many people in business, in government, and in Congress - as many as possible within the time available.
I have had exchanged views on all maters of common interest.
And I think I have dispelled certain misunderstandings among them - and in fact I can see the excitement among them concerning the rapid economic recovery of Hong Kong. I'm sure it might lead to further investment, further exchanges between Hong Kong and the United States.
On the whole, it was very busy, very occupied, but I think it was very worthwhile . . . It's all worthwhile.
Reporter: The State Department earlier today said that universal suffrage should, and could, come early - as early as 2007. I was wondering if Secretary Rice made similar comments during your meeting.
Chief Executive: Not specifically about 2007, but we discussed constitutional development in Hong Kong. This is a matter of common interest and I explained to her the latest proposal, report number five. But it is a decision, I must say, for Hong Kong people and for China to make. We are going to do what is necessary to meet the wishes of Hong Kong people.
I have received positive responses to the recommendations in report number five generally. But I had a useful exchange with Secretary Rice on this subject.
I have done a lot of soul searching. Of putting myself in the place of legislative councillors, particularly those opposing various proposals in the report number five. And I have concluded that there will be three particular questions they would want answered in going through this.
The first question is: Will the recommendations made in the report, if implemented, take us further toward universal suffrage? Are there any elements in the package that will be retrogressive steps in terms of democratisation? I think that would be the first question they would ask.
The second question they would ask is: Whether this package of recommendation has the support of the majority of Hong Kong people?
The third question perhaps is: If they turn down these recommendations, will they put Hong Kong in a better position to secure a better package - take us further into democratisation - make our process even faster toward democratisation, towards universal suffrage?
My answer is this: As regards to the first one, the proposal of enlarging the legislature - embracing more elected seats and indirectly elected seats certainly make the legislature more representative - move it closer toward universal suffrage in every respect. And there is no element in the recommendation which are retrogressive as far as democratisation is concerned.
The answer to the second question: Repeated polls in Hong Kong since the publication of report number five indicates that there is a majority support for the recommendations made.
The answer to the third question is that I am sure that if this package of proposals is rejected we are now going back to the status quo and the next opportunity for any further improvements to be made will be in the year 2012. And what is more, it would have demolished all the work we have done over the last two years, and the trust we have built among all parties in Hong Kong about progressing toward democratisation and understanding of the Central Authorities that Hong Kong is determined along this course.
So all in all I cannot find any rational reason why in the circumstances like this a Legislative Councillor should reject and oppose the recommendations of this package of proposals.
Reporter: The first question I get from members of LegCo is why isn't there a need for a timetable?
Chief Executive: We haven't yet discussed the way in which we are going to compose the legislature for the purpose of universal suffrage elections. We haven't addressed this issue at all. In fact, all the discussions with think-tanks suggest we should do this first and do it very quickly. And I am going to do that - I am going to pursue this question with the Commission on Strategic Development as soon as I return.
Reporter: You described in your speech last night immense interest in democracy in Hong Kong. Why should people here care so much about democracy for seven million people?
Chief Executive: American people believe in democracy and so do we. In fact, we have a constitutional duty to achieve universal suffrage in Hong Kong. The unfortunate thing is that we haven't got a rich history, a rich tradition, of doing it in Hong Kong. So this is a subject of common interest.
Reporter: But there are a lot of small countries that don't have the opportunity to visit the White House to discuss this issue. Why does there appear to be so much interest about Hong Kong?
Chief Executive: I do not want to say we are important, but essentially we are quite. In an economic sense, we are an international finance centre, perhaps the most import one in East Asia because of our uniqueness, because of the values of Hong Kong people, which are shared by many people in the United States - these are common traits and there is a common feeling.
I am sure the more we talk, the more access we have here, whether in the community in general, with senior officials or in Congress. I think we are useful for developing ties between the United States and Hong Kong - and with my country eventually.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, October 29, 2005
Issued at HKT 07:42
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