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The following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at a Q&A session held in Lilian Baylis Theatre, London today (November 3, London time):
Question: Mr Tsang, since we saw you yesterday, you have met with Lord Falconer, and you have also been at Wilton. Was it the case that you feel that you have been called upon to explain or defend your policies?
Chief Executive: No, we had a very fine exchange. We discussed various things. We talked about the prerequisites for democracy, and particularly we tried to talk about grooming politicians, about political institutions, like strengthening political parties and so on. We also talked about the content of Report No. 5, and how it represented a significant step forward towards the final destination of universal suffrage.
We also talked about other subjects, too. We talked particularly about economic relations between Hong Kong and Britain and how they are advanced. We also talked about the World Trade Organisation and the ministerial conference to be held in Hong Kong in December. So there were a variety of subjects.
Question: Surely, at some point during these meetings, you have been encouraged to speed up the pace of democracy and to put forward a timetable. Who has encouraged you to do that? Do you have any new comments on those points?
Chief Executive: No, I do not quite follow your question. The point is that the recommendations in Report No. 5 represented, I believe, the maximum that I am able to achieve as Chief Executive at this stage. There may be minor adjustments that may be dealt with by domestic legislation but, as far as the framework of change is concerned, and the parameters that will change in the elections of 2007/8, I have done my very best.
Question: The question is, have any of your interlocutors encouraged you, or urged you, to come forward with a timetable?
Chief Executive: A timetable came up from time to time but I believe that at this stage it is not achievable, because there are building blocks there. As I have explained many times, we have not yet decided the form of legislature. You are talking about how we are going to reach it, and when we are going to reach it, but reach what? That is the real issue that we have to sort out.
I believe that Hong Kong people are intelligent, politically astute and that we are able to resolve these questions. Let us discuss these questions logically, one by one, as I said, by using a building block approach, and we will find that we will reach our final destination.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Friday, November 4, 2005
Issued at HKT 12:16
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