Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session this afternoon (June 17):
 
Reporter: Thank you, Mrs Lam. I'm wondering, has Beijing given you any advice on how to handle the rising case numbers? Are they worried? And was this your decision to call this press conference or theirs?
 
Chief Executive: Well, throughout this long journey of fighting the COVID-19 epidemic, you will appreciate that myself and my team are adopting a very transparent approach. In fact, I remember in January 2020 when I came out with the Secretary for Food and Health, I gave her three guidelines, and one is transparency. Transparency has to be delivered through meeting the media so that you have a chance to ask us questions, we give you the answers. This is only natural, since the daily confirmed positive cases have escalated to over 1 000. Although I'm coming to the end of my term, I'm shouldering the responsibilities to fight COVID-19, so I chaired a high-level cross-bureau meeting this morning together with the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority. And in line with the spirit of transparency, I thought I should let you know the outcome of the discussion. That's the purpose of hosting this press conference.
 
     The Central Government's involvement in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic is when the Hong Kong SAR Government needed help, they would almost immediately give us the help we need in various forms, and you have already seen this at least on several occasions. But on this occasion, in responding to another question, I said that we have sufficient supply of CIFs (community isolation facilities), testing capacity and antiviral oral drugs, so I do not see the need to appeal to the Central Government for any assistance or support for the time being. I could not say whether they are worried but, of course, in light of a spirit of concern for compatriots in the Hong Kong SAR, our motherland is always concerned whenever there are things happening in Hong Kong, which they feel that may cause the Hong Kong people a bit of concern.
 
     For the time being, I have to stress that this upward (trend of) cases, according to the experts, is not unexpected because we have almost returned to normalcy as far as social activities are concerned. In a way, this is not an alarm bell yet, but we will closely monitor the situation; and if between now and June 30 there are other occasions that I need to chair meetings, I need to decide on policy measures, I will still meet you people, and through you people, to disseminate the needed information to the people of Hong Kong.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Friday, June 17, 2022
Issued at HKT 18:11

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