The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Film Development Council:

     The local premiere of a new film financed by the Film Production Financing Scheme under the Film Development Fund (FDF), "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change", will be held this evening (January 29).

     "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" is the first feature film directed by Wong Cho-lam. Apart from featuring him as the male lead, the film also stars Ivana Wong, Eric Tsang and Teresa Mo. It was adapted from a Broadway musical and depicts 13 distinctive love stories with local sentiment. More than 50 actors and actresses appear in the film to present different pieces of touching love stories with kaleidoscopic images.

     The Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, Mr Ma Fung-kwok, said, "This film is popular comedian Wong Cho-lam's debut in assuming multiple roles in directing, screenwriting and performing a feature film. Given the participation of a large number of popular and acclaimed actors and actresses, it is believed that the film will bring a lot of enjoyment to audiences during the Chinese New Year."

     He added, "The Government will continue to support initiatives for boosting the development of the local film industry through the FDF in order to help the industry to thrive."

     The Government has since 2005 injected a total of $540 million into the FDF to support a number of film production projects and other film-related projects. Since 2007, the FDF has financed 33 film projects, involving total funding of about $95.96 million. The production budget for "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" was around $20 million, with government finance amounting to about $5.2 million.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

     Hongkong Post announced today (January 29) the postal service arrangements for the Lunar New Year holidays from February 5 to 7. No mail delivery will be provided. The General Post Office and the Airport Post Office will open on February 6 and 7. The business hours of these two post offices will be from noon to 5pm and 8am to 5pm respectively. General postal services will be provided. Details of services available will be advertised at the respective post offices. All other post offices will be closed.

     On February 5, the first day of the Lunar New Year, one mail collection will be made for the posting boxes of the General Post Office, Kowloon Central Post Office and Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office. On February 6 and 7, one mail collection will be made for the posting boxes of the General Post Office and the Airport Post Office.

     For more information, customers may visit Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.hk or contact the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (January 29) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, at a media session after the meeting of the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services at the Legislative Council today (January 28):
 
Reporter: Secretary, just regarding the Heritage Foundation's report, are you dismissing some of the concerns expressed in the report that there is increased interference from the Mainland? The second question is on your popularity. Do you think it is due to the fact that the Department of Justice didn't prosecute C Y Leung and that is harming your popularity? How would you deal with that?
 
Secretary for Justice: First of all, on your second question, I can't really comment on how people comment.  That's very important because they may have certain facts or they may not have certain facts. In fact, I won't want to comment on that. But insofar as the popularity survey is concerned, of course, I paid due regard to it and I am very aware of the concerns that the public have expressed through the survey.  But I want to assure the public that I would continue to discharge my duty as the Secretary for Justice together with my colleagues at the Department of Justice with resolve, humility and professionalism.  As to the first point about the Heritage Foundation, it is very important to bear in mind that judicial independence is well engraved and well embedded in Hong Kong's legal system. We are ranked number one in Asia for a number of years, in the World Economic Forum's the Global Competitiveness Report.  The arrangements for the NPCSC (Standing Committee of the National People's Congress) to provide certain interpretation on the Basic Law have been in place since 1997 and have been working well for Hong Kong in the light of the World Bank Indicators showing that our ranking on the rule of law has moved from 69.9% in 1996 all the way up to 93.8% in 2017. We moved from top 70th to top 14th on our rule of law. So, we are very confident that we will continue to uphold the rule of law and provide a very good system for both businesses as well as natural persons in Hong Kong.
 
Reporters: Secretary, could you enlighten us whether you are personally involved when giving your personal opinion, without encroaching on the merit of the case? Whether you are personally involved in the C Y Leung's case?  And on the Heritage Foundation's report, do we have your words that you will not seek NPCSC's interpretation during your term of office?
 
Secretary for Justice: Insofar as the working within the Department of Justice is concerned, irrespective of whichever case, we are not going to divulge. It is a matter of professional basic ethics that everybody expected that the discussions especially involving legal matters are to be contained within the Department of Justice and kept confidential.  Therefore, I would not, unfortunately, be able to respond to your first question. As to the question that you asked based on the Heritage Foundation's comment, may I perhaps deal with it in this way – you asked whether I can guarantee or promise – well I am sure you would appreciate that under the Basic Law which is a national law, the ultimate power to interpret the Basic Law rests with the NPCSC under Article 158. Now whether and how they are going to exercise that power is not something that I can embark upon or to comment upon. And if the case so requires, that may happen.  But having said that, one must not forget that under the arrangement of the Basic Law, insofar as any provisions that are set out in the Basic Law is concerned that relates to Hong Kong autonomous arrangements, that is our own matters.  The court in Hong Kong will and can make their own interpretation of the provisions in the Basic Law, and therefore, will be able to do that without the need to seeking any interpretation from the NPCSC. And most importantly, it is not just a matter of law.  Any decision on any case requires the consideration or an application of the facts to the law in order for the decision to come about.  It is the court of Hong Kong, the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong, in particular, that is going to make that decision at the end of the day.  Thank you very much.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)