Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (October 29):

Reporter: Do you agree with your predecessor that the previous Beijing interpretation on oath-taking might have been avoided? Or you do have reservation on that?

Secretary for Justice: As I said previously and I was explaining the issue just now in Cantonese, my personal belief is under the "one country, two systems" and under the provision in the Basic Law, the judicial system in Hong Kong, and in particular, the integrity of the judicial system of Hong Kong including in particular judicial independence, should be very, very carefully safeguarded. This is the one thing the Government of HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) has been endeavoring to do our utmost. In the context of interpretation, I think I have said previously that we believe the issues could have been dealt with internally, within the system in Hong Kong. Looking into the future, as I said at the opening of the Legal Year in January this year, my belief is that if the issue can be dealt with within the system in Hong Kong, I think Hong Kong should be given a chance to deal with that. And by so doing, it would not be a breach of the "one country, two systems" policy nor would this be contrary to the provision or the spirit of the Basic Law. On the contrary, if things can be dealt with within Hong Kong, and if things therefore were dealt with in Hong Kong, that in fact shows the vitality and in fact the beauty, if not the strength, of the "one country, two systems" policy as well as the spirit of the Basic Law.  Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)

Ends/Sunday, October 29, 2017
Issued at HKT 13:36

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