Following is the transcript of remarks by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (December 18):
      
Reporter: Mr Secretary, some lawmakers say the requirement to play national anthem before the ceremony in LegCo is amount to putting political pressure or political censorship on them. Will the government consider removing that requirement when the legislation is tabled to LegCo next year?

Acting Chief Executive: We have the constitutional responsibility in Hong Kong to enact local law to implement national anthem legislation which is a national piece of law that we should follow. As I said before, we consulted the community. And in fact, drafting has been more or less completed and we expect to bring the bill to LegCo early next year as soon as possible. So by then, we will certainly hear the views of the community on the bill.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Issued at HKT 14:57

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