Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (May 9):
 
Reporter: So how does this new exchange session differ from the CE Q&A session at LegCo (Legislative Council) and will it replace the original Q&A session? And will it be a closed-door or an open-door event? And also what are your thoughts of the UK (United Kingdom) trade minister Dominic Johnson visiting Hong Kong? Are there other plans to visit any other overseas countries?
 
Chief Executive: First of all, this proposal that I have just made about an interactive and consultative Q&A session in LegCo will take place in an open session, of course, and it will take place in the same way as the usual CE's Q&A session. So it will be, I think, broadcast on television so everybody can watch it.
 
     I have explained that the proposal that I'm making has the advantages of three current LegCo processes, which are, first of all, the usual CE's Q&A session, the second is motion debate, and the third is the CE's Policy Address consultation. What I intend to do, after I have reviewed the experience of my last visit with LegCo members to GBA (Greater Bay Area) Mainland cities, and also after reviewing my experience in almost one year and our interaction with LegCo members, I've come to a conclusion that there can be more we can do to allow "patriots administering Hong Kong" to realise even stronger potentials and create stronger values. How do we do that? Because the last experience in the GBA visit indicates that patriots can unite together to do things with a common purpose. And the common purpose is very clear for patriots, which is that we'll try to make good policies and measures that will be creating positive values for Hong Kong, whether it's for economic development, or building a liveable city.
 
     So my intention is to make the time productive and useful, combining all the three advantages of the processes that we have gone through before. The LegCo Q&A session allows me to explain my policies and allows legislators to ask me questions so that I will be able to communicate with them and also with the citizens. The motion debate allows both sides to talk about what they believe and also make recommendations of measures and new policies. And then the CE's Policy Address consultation, of course, will be most vital in collecting opinions and views to assist the Chief Executive to formulate his policy decisions. So combining all these three advantages in a Q&A session will create extra value because it is a good use of time. The opportunity is also very important and useful if we decide on a good subject that is of vital importance to Hong Kong, because obviously there are a lot of questions that the Government wants to handle to improve the situation, but then we need to set priorities. The proposal I'm making now will be able to assist me to set priorities with constructive views from LegCo members. This process takes place in the public eye for citizens of Hong Kong to see what has been going on and, at the same time, they can learn about important policies, important plans, such as the topic I have chosen, the reports and the spirits of our country in taking Hong Kong and the whole country through the years ahead.
 
     Regarding a minister from the UK visiting Hong Kong, I welcome any government officials from different countries to come to Hong Kong to promote business, trade and also people-to-people relationships. I think that will be helpful for everybody. I will be making plans to visit different places, but of course I also have to work out my priorities. I've explained to people already that the next destinations I'll be visiting will be ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries because they are the closest partners and the economic co-operation will be enhanced through communication, dialogues and interpersonal exchanges. So this will be the next destination I will be making.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Issued at HKT 13:51

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