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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, at a media session after attending a forum on constitutional development organized by the Hong Kong Federation of Women this evening (August 14):
Reporter: Can you describe the comments and responses of the people attending this forum on constitutional reform?
Chief Secretary for Administration: Today we had a very enthusiastic audience. Many of them spoke for quite a long time, speaking extensively on how they feel about how constitutional development should be taken forward. Many of them are highly appreciative of the way we put forward the green paper, describing in Chapters one and two the background as well as the constitutional principles and bases on which we will take the matter forward. Many speakers are highly supportive of what is written in the Basic Law Article 45 that on the road to universal suffrage, there are a number of steps which should be taken in a gradual manner and reflect the real situation in Hong Kong.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion.)
Ends/Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Issued at HKT 23:29
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