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CS' remarks after focus group discussion for young persons
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Following is the transcript (English portion) of a media session given by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, after attending the constitutional development focus group discussion for young persons this afternoon (August 11):
Chief Secretary: I would like to announce that the Task Force has decided to extend the consultation period for the Third Report to September 30. The original three-month consultation period was due to end on August 31. We now have one more month to gather public views on this vitally important subject for the future of Hong Kong.
Up till today, the Task Force has received more than 140 submissions. We had also organised 11 forums at which more than 800 people from different walks of life, different sectors, backgrounds, age groups and districts had participated. The participants at these forums have given us very useful suggestions on how to amend the election methods in 2007 and 2008. The public
response so far to the Task Force's Third Report has been good. Recently, we have also received suggestion that the consultation period should be extended to give people a wider opportunity to express their views.
For that reason, we have extended the consultation arrangement. We hope very much that during the extended period, organisations in different sectors, as well as the political groups and personalities who are engaged busily at the moment in the election will be able to form their views and convey their views formally to the Task Force.
We really hope that we are able to receive views from the widest cross section of the community and take them fully into account in working out various options for change. This approach I am sure will be conducive to consensus building in LegCo and the community.
The common wish of the public is for all concerned to participate in the consultation process. I sincerely urge they take this on board and make submissions to the Task Force.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Wednesday, August 11, 2004
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