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Following is the transcript (English portion) of the remarks made by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, at a media session at the ground floor lobby, Main Wing, Central Government Offices today (December 16):
Secretary of Security: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government welcomes the visit by Mr Alberto A. Lim, Secretary of Tourism, who today updated us on the matters arising from the Manila incident.
At the meeting with the Chief Executive, Secretary Lim deeply regretted the incident. He expressed condolences from the President of the Philippines and the sympathy of the people of the Philippines for the victims and their families as well as the people of Hong Kong.
Secretary Lim also advised us on the following -
* administrative or criminal charges have been filed against the responsible officials. He assured us that the Philippine Government was determined to rigorously pursue proceedings against the officials held responsible for the incident and ensure that justice is done to the victims.
* a series of measures launched recently to provide a safe and secure environment for tourists in the Philippines. These include
(a) a special team of 185 police officers has been strategically deployed to patrol tourist attractions both in and outside Manila;
(b) seminars have been arranged to enhance awareness and crime prevention techniques of tourist guides and drivers;
(c) a Special Task Force has been set up to ensure the safety of motorists and bus passengers, including foreign tourists, who travel outside Manila.
The Philippine authorities will also implement institutional reforms in law enforcement agencies and upgrade their crisis management capacity, upon receipt of the recommendations of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee as set out in its second report.
We welcome these measures, which will help guard against a recurrence of similar tragedy and restore the confidence of Hong Kong people visiting the Philippines.
We hope to see early implementation of these measures. We will listen to the views of the community and consider adjusting the travel alert as appropriate.
I also apprised Secretary Lim of the decision of the Coroner to hold a death inquest in Hong Kong on the Manila incident. We are pleased to note the assurances expressed by the Secretary of the Philippine government's continued co-operation in the Coroner's death inquest in Hong Kong.
Reporter: What about the question of who may have been responsible for actually shooting some of the people who have been killed in Manila? Did you address this point and other areas in this report?
Secretary of Security: I think we are now having a Coroner's inquest in Hong Kong. Regarding the question you ask, the cause of death will be a subject of this inquest. Of course, the Philippine authorities, they have published the first report. And in that report they have made some in-depth inquest in this area. For the Hong Kong Coroner inquest, as the judicial process has already been initiated, I don't think I need to make further comment on this.
Reporter: Are you satisfied?
Secretary of Security: It is not my satisfaction. We have to rely on the judicial process to go ahead.
Reporter: Does the Philippine government allow the Philippine officials for the inquest?
Secretary of Security: This morning, I informed the Secretary the coming death inquest of the Coroner's Court in Hong Kong and I requested for co-operation and assistance in this area including helping some Philippine people related to the incident to come to Hong Kong to give evidence. The Secretary gave me very positive assurance that they will co-operate.
Reporter: How soon will the Hong Kong Government change the travel alert?
Secretary of Security: We will certainly conduct a review, a very objective review and we also consult the tourist trade and the people in Hong Kong and then we will come to a view.
Reporter: Are there any outstanding areas that remain unaddressed between the two sides? Are you satisfied?
Secretary of Security: Today's meeting is definitely very positive and it helps ease the situation. For Hong Kong people, the upcoming Coroner's inquest is very important. People in Hong Kong hold high hopes that the Coroner will review the truth of matter and give justice to the victims concerned. We sincerely hope that the Philippine authorities will provide all assistance required in helping the inquest in Hong Kong in whatever way by assisting to arrange the relevant witnesses to come to Hong Kong.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, December 16, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:21
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