Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (June 11):

Reporter: Good morning Mr Lee. Just to follow up on your question on Lord Sumption’s comment. In particular, he and Lord Collins in 2012 said that continued participation would be in the interest of the people in Hong Kong. Besides the reasons you just mentioned, you cited Lord Collins as saying Hong Kong's political situation as part of the reason of his resignation. So what has changed in the two years? Do the three foreign judges’ resignations pose a challenge to Hong Kong in its recruitment of foreign overseas judges to sit on the Court of Final Appeal? Does this undermine confidence in Hong Kong's common law system? The second question to follow up on the conflict between the University of Hong Kong's Council and its Vice-Chancellor Zhang Xiang, has this saga already impacted the reputation of University of Hong Kong and how does the Government plan to mitigate the situation? Thank you.
 
Chief Executive: Well, Hong Kong has become safer, more stable, and that will help business to make good decision because of the certainty and the security that Hong Kong is now enjoying. The Hong Kong Government has issued a very long and detailed statement to indicate our disagreement with Lord Sumption’s article. What I would like to add is judges’ professional expertise is on law, based on his legal knowledge and experience. Judges’ professional expertise is not on politics. A judge is entitled to his personal political preferences. But that is not a judge’s area of professional expertise. A judge can like a particular system or dislike it. He may also like a particular law or not, but his professional duty is to interpret and apply that particular piece of law in accordance with legal principles and evidence, whether he likes that law or not; not from his political stance.
 
     In 2021, Lord Sumption refused to take part in a political boycott orchestrated in the UK (United Kingdom), and he said then, that people should not confuse rule of law with democracy. He said there was no democracy during the British rule in Hong Kong. But he said the rule of law was maintained at that time by judges deciding on cases according to the law and evidence. Democracy and rule of law should not be confused. His latest statement indicates that he does not like the political situation in Hong Kong. But this is exactly the area he has told us in 2021 that should not be confused with the rule of law. His recent statement looks to me to be contradictory to his previous stance in this regard. Indeed, people who try to damage the rule of law in Hong Kong, are among those in the UK, in the UK Government, the UK politicians and some anti-China, anti-Hong Kong media. They openly threatened to impose sanction on judges before, during and after the trials. These are blatant attempts to attack the rule of law in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has never, and will not, interfere or attempt to interfere, with judges’ conduct of trial. We have not done it and we will not do it. Non-interference of the judicial process is the DNA of Hong Kong’s rule of law.
 
     There were three judges who have indicated their wishes to leave. Other than Lord Sumption, Judge Collins resigned but he said he continues to have the fullest confidence in the Court and the total independence of its members. Judge McLachlin has said that she will retire from the job because of her age when her term expires. Yet she expressed her confidence in the members of the Court, their independence and their determination to uphold the rule of law.
 
     This is a time when I feel so proud of our judges. They do their job professionally, according to their judicial oath, without fear and will uphold justice using their legal knowledge and experience, and adjudicate cases based on evidence and legal principles. They have been standing up to threats and despicable interferences from overseas that try to pressure them. I respect each and every one of them for their courage and their determination to uphold the rule of law in Hong Kong. Some UK officials and politicians try to weaponise the UK judicial influence to target China and the Hong Kong SAR. We should not allow it to happen. We shall protect judges all round from these undue interferences. Our judges need to be supported by all of us for their courage, their determination for upholding the rule of law at a time of open interferences from a number of countries using threats and different kinds of pressure. It is sad and disappointing that our judges are abandoned by a few of their overseas counterparts and have been so unfairly treated by somebody with whom our judges used to serve our judicial system together. But the whole of Hong Kong will support them. We shall support without reservation our courageous, upright and professional judges of Hong Kong, for upholding the rule of law.
 
     Regarding your second question about the University of Hong Kong (HKU), I have to make a clear point that first of all, HKU does not belong to any single person. It does not belong to the Vice-Chancellor. It does not belong to any individual of its Council. HKU belongs to all Hong Kong people. Hong Kong people love it. Students love it. The teaching staff love it. A lot of overseas scholars, youths love it. In all matters, we must take the interest of HKU as the overriding principle. Universities need to seek continuous improvement. If HKU has problems with administration, then it should be improved. If there are important vacancies that have been left long vacant, then they have to be filled up. If there are procedures that are unclear, then we need to write out clearer procedures. If there are issues with the finances, then we have to ensure that there will be clear accountability and responsibility. The Government makes provisions to help universities to go about their businesses. In terms of every year, the provision of public money is over billion dollars. Public money must be spent with good value. The governance of a university, and also the administration, have to be compatible and to conform with the requirements of the agreement that is signed when this provision of money is given. There is a responsibility for the university to fulfil those obligations.
 
     I have met the Vice-Chancellor and also the Chairman of the Council. I tried to co-ordinate their communication and I have also reminded them that good communication and co-operation are important, and for the government provision of public money for universities to go about their business, the government has standards and demands. I also reminded them to take the interest of the university as the overriding principle in all their business. I have already asked the Education Bureau to understand this matter. They will report to me today. I will be meeting them again to listen to the most updated report. I shall then make my decision and it will be announced. Thank you very much.

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

     â€‹The Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY), Ms Maisie Ho, reinforced  the bilateral ties between Hong Kong and Boston, Massachusetts of the United States in business, education and culture during her duty visit to Boston where she met with local government officials, as well as business, education and community leaders.
      
     In her meeting with officials from the Mayor's Office of Boston today (June 10, Boston time), Ms Ho gave an update on the latest developments in Hong Kong. She discussed issues of mutual interests with the Senior Advisor for Partnerships, Mr Stephen Chan; the Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, Mr Segun Idowu; and the Deputy Director of Global Affairs and Protocol, Mr James Colimon.
      
     Earlier on the day, Ms Ho met with local biotech start-ups and venture capitalists at a luncheon, co-hosted by the HKETONY and the Boston Chinese Investment Club under the theme of "Exploring biotech opportunities in Asia through Hong Kong", where she highlighted Hong Kong's immense opportunities and policy roadmap in becoming the health and life science hub of Asia , which premised on the city's advantages as an international financial centre, excellent research capability and talent pool, as well as its unique "super-connector" role to Mainland China and Asia.
      
     During the day, Ms Ho also met with executives from Boston University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology to deepen ties in academic collaboration and student exchange. She also gave an overview of the various talent admission schemes that provide ample career opportunities for graduates of these higher institutions. 
      
     Yesterday (June 9, Boston time), Ms Ho officiated at the eye-dotting and opening ceremonies of the Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, kicking off the celebration of the 45th edition of this oldest dragon boat festival in the United States, which the HKETONY has been the naming sponsor for.
      
     About 2 000 paddlers from 68 teams took part in this year's races, which attracted over 20 000 spectators to join in the festivities. Aside from cheering on the paddlers competing on Charles River, the spectators were also treated to cultural performances, showcases of lion dance, dragon dance and tai-chi, as well as arts and crafts displays and delectable Asian cuisine. One of the crowd favourites was the HKETONY booth with Hong Kong-themed games and souvenirs. 

                  

     July 1 marks the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China. To celebrate the HKSAR's 27th anniversary, the Government and different sectors of the community will roll out a rich array of special offers and activities, covering areas including public transport, culture, arts and leisure, as well as dining and consumption for members of the public to participate in and share the joy of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.
 
     For public transport, children aged 3 to 11 can enjoy free rides on the MTR on July 1, while Light Rail and MTR Bus will provide free service to all passengers on that day. Free rides on trams and several ferry routes will also be offered to the public, with vouchers for certain ferry routes to be distributed in advance.
 
     On culture, arts and leisure, the public will be offered free admission to a range of fee-charging leisure and cultural facilities of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and to the Hong Kong Wetland Park under the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department on July 1. Free admission will be offered to all General Admission exhibitions of M+ and all thematic exhibitions of the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Furthermore, additional free guided tours, dining, consumption and accommodation offers, etc, will be provided from late June to the end of July for the 13 projects under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme.
 
     As for dining and consumption, the public can enjoy a 29 per cent discount when purchasing designated products of the Fish Marketing Organization and the Vegetable Marketing Organization via the "Local Fresh" online store or mobile app from July 1 to 7. The Environmental Protection Department will offer additional GREEN$ to members of the public who recycle via its community recycling network, GREEN@COMMUNITY, and those who participate in food waste recycling using smart food waste recycling bins in July.
 
     Meanwhile, more than 1 000 restaurants are expected to provide offers on July 1. Ngong Ping 360 and Ocean Park Hong Kong will offer ticket discounts. Hong Kong International Airport, various shopping malls and markets will also roll out shopping or dining offers.
 
     The Government thanks different sectors for responding to its appeal by launching special offers and activities to celebrate with the public the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. Information about the offers and activities is available on the dedicated website (www.hksar27.gov.hk). Relevant government departments and organisations will make further announcements on the details of the offers.

     â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 11) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Cherokee County of the State of Iowa in the United States (US), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 16 480 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 7.73 million poultry eggs from the US in the first three months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the American authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) announced today (June 11) that the Chief Executive-in-Council (CE-in-Council) had decided to increase the pay for civil servants in the upper, middle and lower salary bands and the directorate at 3 per cent across the board for 2024-25 with retrospective effect from April 1, 2024.

     In arriving at this decision, the CE-in-Council has thoroughly considered the staff side's response to the pay offers and other relevant factors under the established annual civil service pay adjustment mechanism, including the state of Hong Kong's economy; the Government's fiscal position; changes in the cost of living; the net pay trend indicators; and civil service morale.

     A CSB spokesman said, "In view of the Government's current fiscal deficit, we need to be prudent in handling the civil service pay adjustment. In the meantime, the vacancy level in the civil service has climbed to 10 per cent under a tight labour market. Civil servants of all ranks have shouldered additional responsibilities. The economy has recorded actual growth with inflation over the past year. There were also pay rises in private organisations. After balancing all relevant factors, the CE-in-Council decided to increase the pay at the same rate of 3 per cent across the board."

     The Government will submit the 2024-25 civil service pay adjustment proposal to the Legislative Council Finance Committee for consideration as soon as possible.