Transcript of remarks by Acting CE at media session before ExCo meeting (with video)

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (November 10):

Reporter: Referring to the report saying that the NPCSC will take steps to disqualify several pro-democracy lawmakers, can you just confirm, does the Government know anything about it? And also if that's true, what could be the legal basis of such action and will the Government be involved in handling the matter? And also if that's true, is Beijing and Hong Kong Government basically turning LegCo into a rubber stamp and that it will no longer allow any dissent in LegCo, and if that's true what sort of impression do you think this will give to the international society about Hong Kong? And secondly, the US has imposed sanctions on four more Mainland and Hong Kong officials, saying they have helped dismantle Hong Kong's freedoms and threaten the city's autonomy. What's the Government's stance? Do you have any response to that? Thank you.

Acting Chief Executive: On the first question I did answer it in Chinese already that we don't comment, we're not in a position to comment on speculative reports in the media, so I'm afraid you'll have to excuse us at this stage, you know, we have nothing to offer, nothing to comment.

     On the second question about US sanctions against four officials, two from the Mainland Government and two from Hong Kong, we've stated our position clearly when the first batch of officials were sanctioned, that is absolutely unacceptable, this is absolutely unacceptable. This is blatant, this is grossly outrageous – I would use the word "barbaric" – interference in Hong Kong's internal affairs, of course, in our Motherland's internal affairs, in the Central People's Government's internal affairs. Absolutely unreasonable, unacceptable and, you know, we are doing our job to protect, safeguard Hong Kong in national security, in the nation's security, absolutely it's incumbent on Hong Kong officials to do that, incumbent on Hong Kong people to safeguard national security. It's our obligation, we are obliged to do it, we should do it. So we are not going to be intimidated by any of these actions. In fact this is clearly breaching international practice, apart from international law, alright. So, my comment is very simple, that this action is entirely unacceptable, outrageous, and I would use the word "barbaric" – interference in Hong Kong's internal affairs.

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