SEDL's transcript
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Following is the transcript of a media session by the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, after attending RTHK¡¦s "Talkabout-Dialogue with Secretaries" today (December 5) (English portion):

Reporter: You were talking about tourism revenue during the WTO ministerial conference... people were banking on the fact ... that instead of having an increase in the tourism revenue, there might a net decrease...?

Stephen Ip: I am not saying whether there will be an increase or decrease. I am saying that as far as hotels in Central and in Wan Chai are concerned, certainly they will benefit because most of those who are going to attend the MC6 meeting are accommodated in those hotels. But hotels in Kowloon and the New Territories may not benefit from the MC6. Overall, I think the effect on the number of tourists visiting Hong Kong will be minimal.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)

Ends/Monday, December 5, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:08

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