Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, today (December 16) after attending the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance Launching Ceremony:
Reporter: Would you urge the Buildings Department to share with us more information about the Stanley house to allay public's concerns? Also, about the Queen's Hill's camp, is it true that you're planning to review that part of land to provide more housing?
Secretary for Development: On the Queen's Hill report in the newspaper, it is a speculation. I don't think it is appropriate for me to comment on speculative press reports. As for the Buildings Department, it is a law enforcement agency. I am confident that my colleagues in the Buildings Department are enforcing the Buildings Ordinance in accordance with the prevailing enforcement policies and they will apply the same set of standards towards whichever property they inspect regardless of the status of the owners.
Reporter: There're several reports about Mr CY Leung removing illegal structure before he received any Buildings Department's direction. Does this amount to any disrespect of due procedures?
Secretary for Development: Which property are you referring to?
Reporter: Both properties.
Secretary for Development: As regards to the property in Stanley, I believe the Building Authority was enforcing the building regulations and taking enforcement actions in accordance with the then prevailing policies. And after they had inspected the property, in fact they had come out and reported to the public. This has been reported in earlier reports of the Building Authority. In this respect I am sorry that I don't have anything to add.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Sunday, December 16, 2012
Issued at HKT 22:01
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