Transcript of remarks by SHA at media session
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     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui, at a media session at the Legislative Council today (August 18):

Reporter: Secretary, about the Hong Kong Marathon. Looking at the current instruction and arrangements that are in plan right now, is it likely for certain that all participants will have to be fully vaccinated? Second question would be on the District Council oath taking. Can you tell us that is it actually going to happen this year at all?
 
Secretary for Home Affairs: Regarding the oath taking for the District Councillors, I would need to do it properly. Therefore, we would announce the details in due course. But I don't think it would go past this year. So that's all I have to say for today.

     Regarding the Standard Chartered marathon, I think it is important to balance the safety concern, in terms of the social distancing, epidemic worries and risks, and also be able to host major sports events. But we do have that experience throughout this year. You know, earlier this year we had the cycling event, we also had the AFC football event. Down the road I'm still working closely with a lot of our sports associations, national sports associations, in working out the details so there are more events to come. But more importantly, I think we need to balance. We don't want any outbreak as a result of a sports event, so vaccination, testing, these are some of the requirements that are listed, and we are working closely with the organisers and we hope to have good news for announcement very soon. Thank you very much.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Issued at HKT 16:12

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