Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, at a media session after attending the Construction Quality Forum and Construction Innovation and Technology Fund Launching Ceremony today (October 2):
Reporter: Just now in your speech, you mentioned that there are a few very high profile quality issues with major projects, and that the Government will face it. But earlier, there are still concerns that with the restart of construction at Exhibition Centre Station, there are concerns about the safety issues because they lowered the acceptable levels for subsidence. What do you have to say to that?
Secretary for Development: I think the Acting Secretary for Transport and Housing, Dr Raymond So, has explained the rationale for restarting the construction very clearly, so I am not going to repeat that. From the Government's point of view, we will do everything possible to ensure that our construction industry can provide services that are of the highest standard possible. As I said in the speech just now, actually, if you look at our international track record, Hong Kong has been performing in a most impressive manner. For eight years in a row, we have been ranked number one by one of the leading organisations in the world. So, I think, on the one hand, we need to face our inadequacies frankly and honestly, but at the same time, we don't need to be too shy about our achievement. The fact is that Hong Kong has been leading in the world in the area of public infrastructure.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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