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The following is the transcript (English portion) of the remarks made by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at a media stand-up session after visiting the Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) this afternoon (August 16):
Reporter: Now as the whole matter (Mr Leung Chin-manˇ¦s case) has been resolved, what more can be done to prevent resemblance of the incident?
Chief Executive: I have just explained that the incident has been dealt with. The most important thing is the residual work as regard to the system. I have said there are several major questions to be solved. There is a difference between what the public expect regarding the employment of retired civil servants and what retired civil servants consider is reasonable with re-employment. There is a difference in that. And there is also an enormous human resource asset possessed by these retired people which the community could utilise. And there is also an overriding need to prevent conflict of interests. So all these issues together with that we are facing a civil service system where pension is no longer applicable - all civil servants now are recruited on a different system, not on pensionable terms - how would we be able to enforce the rule that we have in mind? All these bigger issues will be resolved by a dedicated committee which I am going to set up by reputable people including the Secretary for Civil Service. And it has to consult the public, civil servantsˇ¦ organisations as well as Legislative Councillors on the best way forward. This is a very important issue. I will seize every opportunity to resolve it.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Saturday, August 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 21:06
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