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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Stephen Lam, at a media session in Legislative Council Complex today (June 21):
Chief Secretary for Administration: In the last day or so we have tried our very best to push forward the reorganisation proposal for the fourth-term Government, and proposed to the Legislative Council that we should first deal with the resolution relating to this reorganisation in the main council before we resume dealing with bills put forward by the Government.
The Legislative Council has voted on this procedural motion this afternoon. We respect that decision and we shall continue to roll forward our legislative proposals according to the priorities already set. There is still about 10 days left within this term of Government, and we shall continue to try our level best in rolling forward these proposals.
Reporter: This is clearly failed political judgement, so what is the message of this for the outgoing Administration and for the incoming Administration?
Chief Secretary for Administration: Well, I would say that my colleagues have been trying very hard to invite, encourage various Legislative Councillors to come back to take part in the vote. A few of them were hurrying back. These things happen in the legislature, and sometimes if a few legislators fail to arrive in time you may lose the vote. But this is a procedural vote that we have lost today. We shall continue to roll forward our legislative proposals in accordance with the substance of the matter.
What's happened in the last day or so is that many legislators, regardless of their political backgrounds, have voiced their support and concern about major items such as legislation on first-hand sales (of residential properties) and other items, and they continue to voice their support for these issues to be dealt with at an early date. As regards the reorganisation proposal, we shall continue to explain the basis for this proposal and we shall roll forward the remainder of our legislative programme for the next 10 days.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, June 21, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:34
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