S for S speaks on officials breaching group gathering regulation

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, at a media session after attending the meeting of the Legislative Council today (July 14):
 
Reporter: Besides the three Hong Kong officials, who are the other people at the dinner? Were there actually Mainland officials involved? Secondly, are you saying that when officials do not know about how extravagant the receptions or advantages they receive, that means that they can accept them? Are you saying that other civil servants can do that? Thank you.
 
Secretary for Security: It is because the case is under criminal investigation and it will be presented in court in due course, and because of privacy issues, I think I am not able to disclose the identity of other participants. Regarding the treatment, I think you have wrongly interpreted what I am saying. I am saying that as officials, we have to avoid or be alert to any lavish treatment. But for this case, there is no reasonable suspicion by the three officers that the meal is lavish. Of course if they know that it is lavish, I am sure they will have different treatment. For sure they won't do what they have done.
 
Reporter: When you said that officials sacrificed their time with their families to do that work dinner, so could you clarify that what were those key takeaways in that dinner especially when the attendance in that case involved in the criminal case?
 
Secretary for Security: First of all, what you refer about the criminal (case) is what happened after the dinner. On this thought, I don't think any officials will have any idea about someone sitting among the table will be committing an offence. As I said, as officials, we have to keep in contact with different sectors, of different natures. It is because when we are formulating our strategies and our work, we have to know what the society is thinking about. I think this is very treasurable, especially (to know) what the different sectors are thinking about.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)