| USCMA answers questions at media session |
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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (January 10): Reporter: Mr Lau, yesterday, an official from Beijing's Liaison Office, Hao Tiechuan, said that the pan-democrats' three-track nomination system might weaken the power of the nominating committee and it may also violate the Basic Law with the suggestion of the civil nomination idea. Do you agree with him? Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: I won't comment on his comments yesterday. But, on the whole, we can say that the platform to nominate candidate for the CE (Chief Executive) election is only one, that is, from the nomination committee. That is the only way to do that. Reporter: If that's the only way to do that, why is the Government listening to all these different views at these meetings over the past few days? So has the Government already decided that civil nomination is not acceptable? Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: That's why we are organising several dinners for the LegCo (Legislative Council) members to give us their views and to exchange all their views. We think that it is a very useful gathering. We hope that we can have an in-depth gathering and also discussion in the future. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Friday, January 10, 2014 |