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Following is the transcript of the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Mr Stephen Lam's answers to media questions after attending the meeting of the Legislative Council's Constitutional Affairs Panel this afternoon (April 19):
Reporter: What is going to happen (to the by-elections) if you cannot get the $150 million?
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs : We have every confidence that we will be able to secure sufficient support within the Legislative Council from among the principal political parties for the $159 million allocation to be approved for organising this by-election. We also believe that different political parties, whilst they may have different views about this by-election, and some do not support the resignations from the five geographical districts, they are prepared to recognise that the HKSAR Government, according to law, will have to organise this by-election so as to ensure that there will be an adequate number of representatives in the Legislative Council to compose a 60 members' legislature.
Reporter : But what if in the event that you couldn't find the money? Does it mean that the by-elections will not happen?
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs : There is no need to speculate in this direction. We have every confidence that we will secure the necessary financial allocation for the by-election to take place.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Monday, April 19, 2010
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