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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 (August 24):
Reporter: How soon can the bodies of the travellers and wounded travellers be back to Hong Kong?
Secretary for Security: We have expressed our wish that the bodies should be returned to Hong Kong by tomorrow evening. We have made such a request to the highest authorities in the Philippines. And so we have delayed the return of the chartered flight until tomorrow evening.
Reporter: Do you encounter any difficulties in contacting families and travellers and what sort of difficulties do you face?
Secretary for Security: We have got in touch with all the tour group members in the Philippines as well as their family members. For those family members still in Hong Kong whom we have contacted, out of the seven families, we have contacted five of them and we are still trying to contact the remaining two.
Reporter: Were you given any response as to how or when the investigation will be completed ...
Secretary for Security: We have requested that the Philippine authorities should conduct a thorough and fair investigation into the whole incident. To this request, they have made a positive reply. As to when the report will be ready, we have yet to see. Of course, from our perspective, we don't want to see a long-drawn period before the final report comes up.
Reporter: Any diplomat involved in the ...
Secretary for Security: As I mentioned earlier, our Ambassador has called on the President this afternoon making our requests. One of the requests is to have a full report on the incident and the Foreign Ministry will follow up.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:52
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