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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at a meet-the-media session to conclude his duty visit to Beijing today (December 19):
Reporter: Could you tell us what you have achieved on your trip and what it means to Hong Kong people?
Chief Executive: I think it’s all been explained in the statement which I have just made. There has been substantive progress in various items of requests we have made in response to the current global financial crisis. All these items of work, all of these proposals are made in the interest of Hong Kong and also an advancement of the development of the nation as a whole. This covers a whole range of things including strengthening Hong Kong as a global financial centre and also widening the individual visit scheme to Hong Kong, particularly in co-operation between Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta development. All of these are set out in the statement I have just made, and particularly the question of Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta co-operation. There are very specific measures including accelerating the various infrastructure projects connecting Hong Kong and the Mainland. I believe this is a very substantive advance in our efforts to overcome the current financial crisis as well as strengthening Hong Kong as a global financial centre and a servicing centre.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, December 19, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:27
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