Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo meeting
12.12.2017

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (December 12): Reporter: Mrs Lam, about the rule changes, can the Government be a mediator between the two factions so they won't argue any more in a sense, and would LegCo really return to normal afterwards? Another question about transport subsidy, what are the requirements they have to satisfy before they can be included in the scheme, and would you think that this would be welcomed by lawmakers in general? Chief Executive: I'll respond to the last question first. As far as this non-means tested Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme, we introduced it in my Policy Address on the 11th of October, and thereafter we consulted the Legislative Council and listened very attentively to views expressed in the community, including by those operators who were outside of the scope of the Scheme. And as I have emphasised time and again, my Government is characterised by really being very attentive to the needs of the people and we adopt a listening mode to things that we are doing, so I find it a reasonable proposition to expand the Scheme to include four other forms of public transport modes so that more people could benefit and more operators could participate in the Scheme. The prerequisites for these other operators to participate in the Scheme are rather straightforward. So I don't think they will have any difficulty in complying with these operational requirements, but I would suggest you wait until Transport and Housing Bureau issues a detailed paper to set out the operational requirements. And with these additional changes to the Scheme, I hope that we will get the full support of the Legislative Council, because the actual implementation of the Scheme, that is the provision of subsidy to the 2.2 million Hong Kong people, can only take place after the Scheme's financial commitment has been approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council. So the earlier the LegCo Finance Committee approves the Scheme, the earlier the people of Hong Kong will be able to benefit. As far as the changes to the Rules of Procedures, this is entirely a matter within the power of the Legislative Council under the Basic Law. I always want to be a mediator in order to bring peace, not only to Legislative Council but to society at large, but unfortunately on this matter it seems that the positions of the two groups of Legislative Council members are extremely different or even polarised. An attempt had been made – there was a cross-party meeting some time ago, but unfortunately it has not yielded any positive outcome, so I really don't think I have that ability or capacity to mediate in the matter. And I always remember some of the Legislative Council members, especially from the non-pro-establishment camp, that they do not want the Chief Executive to get involved or to interfere into matters of the Legislative Council, so I'd rather abide by that principle. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) Ends/Tuesday, December 12, 2017 Issued at HKT 16:05 NNNN