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

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (May 28):
 
Reporter: Mrs Lam, you've faced accusations about lying about whether China was originally purposefully excluded from extradition laws. Former officials Anson Chan and Chris Patten have said that they were. Would you now retract your claim? And secondly, many Hongkongers are remembering the Tiananmen massacre victims this week, ahead of the 30th anniversary of the crackdown. Would you express any criticism of Beijing's actions in 1989?

Chief Executive: On the first question, what I told members of the Legislative Council and the Hong Kong community was based on what was recorded in official documents, including official documents of the Legislative Council, or what we called the Hansard. Those are very authoritative official documents. At that time – 1996 and 1997 – I was a middle-rank official, so I was not involved first-hand in this particular bill going through the Legislative Council. Myself and my colleagues could only refer to the official documents on both sides – on the part of the Government, why we put forward in those days, the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance; in the official records of the Legislative Council deliberations and the official record of the debate in the Legislative Council on what each member said in the debate. Actually, in those days, there weren't many members speaking on this bill. What the other persons that you have quoted said was not based on those records. If they have insider information, perhaps it is for them to prove that their insider information is something that we should know. But up till now, I think another month has lapsed, we have not seen the documentation or the substantiation of that insider information.
 
     As far as the second question, Hong Kong is a free society. As the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, I safeguard and uphold the freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of gathering, so we respect whoever in Hong Kong wants to express whatever views on the subject matter. Thank you very much.  
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)