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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session after attending "Dialogue Sessions with Distinguished Leaders" at the Hong Kong Institute of Education today (March 5):
Reporter: Since it's Beijing who ultimately makes the decision on the universal suffrage, isn't it futile to conduct the consultation of the Hong Kong people right now?
Chief Secretary for Administration: Well, I don't think so, because, in accordance with the "Five-step Process", the first step will be kicked off upon submission of report by the Chief Executive to the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), and I'm sure that the NPCSC will love to take into account the views of Hong Kong community before they decide whether changes should be made to the (electoral methods of the) two sets of elections, that is the election of the Chief Executive and the election or the formation of the Legislative Council. And that is why we are conducting this full five-month consultation exercise in order to collate the opinions of the people of Hong Kong.
But at the same time, it is our duty to remind all stakeholders in providing their views to the Hong Kong SAR Government that constitutional development in Hong Kong has to take place within a legal and constitutional context, and the Central Authorities have the responsibility, constitutional-wise, to decide on the constitutional developments in Hong Kong. And also, ultimately, upon election, the Chief Executive-elect has to be appointed by the Central People's Government. And these are all provisions in the Basic Law, which we have so far attached a lot of importance to it, because it is through the promulgation and the compliance with the Basic Law then all freedoms and rights are being preserved, and Hong Kong after almost 17 years of reunification is able to maintain its prosperity and stability.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:15
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