Following are the remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session before the Executive Council conference today (September 15):

Press reporter: Good early morning, Chief Executive. Concerning the defective lift setup work at Queen Mary Hospital, why didn’t the Government activate the Heads of Department Accountability System? And do you believe that any authorities should be held liable? And how will you make sure that the chief job supervisor’s resignation does not prevent the examination? And for Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, the number of signs will you describe in the file? And what locations will the binding targets cover? Will you establish signs for essential locations such as the Northern Metropolis advancement and population policy? Thank you.

President: Queen Mary Hospital’s lifts are not effectively operating. These issues require to be corrected really, extremely rapidly. Medical services are really crucial, and the brand-new scientific block should be open for service as quickly as possible. We will pursue responsibility, consisting of that of the professional, subcontractors, engineering workers, and experts. And if there are federal government workers included, we will pursue their responsibility. We likewise require to recognize where and whether the system has any insufficiencies and correct them. The Development Bureau has actually offered me an initial instruction. I have actually asked to completely examine the matter and report within a month. To consider what even more action we will do, we should fact-find extremely plainly what took place and where the insufficiencies are, and whether anybody ought to be held liable. We must pursue their responsibility. After we have actually learnt the realities, then we’ll choose what even more steps we will take.

In regard to Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, which I will reveal tomorrow, there will be signs embeded in the Five-Year Plan, and there will be signs which are binding and signs which are anticipatory. And I believe for any federal government that sets signs, we think about comparable aspects. There are things we should do, and they are binding on the Government especially. And there are things we wish to do quite, however we require everyone to get involved. While the Government will lead, and the Government will co-ordinate resources and make the best policies, everyone needs to play their part in order to accomplish the very best outcome.

I wish to make it really clear: the Five-Year Plan is not a prepared economy. It is a strategy which informs us where the tactical instructions are, where we are heading, and which are the top priority locations. And after that it is a plan for us to execute in 5 years’ time. When we roll out policies each year, we likewise have to establish concerns, so that at the end of the 5 years, we will reach particular objectives. Tomorrow, when I reveal Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, and likewise reveal my Policy Address, individuals will have the ability to have the 2 files together, take a look at what the plan states, take a look at what signs there are, and how the Policy Address will present policies to carry out that plan, and likewise set indications, both binding and anticipatory, for all these objectives to be accomplished.

I understand everyone will be extremely crazy about the contents of the 2 files. I’ll do my finest to present and discuss all the information. I will be presenting it in LegCo (Legislative Council), and after that I will hold an interview in the afternoon. And there will likewise be an online forum for me to speak to the television media. The next day, there will be another event where I’ll be speaking with the general public through a radio online forum, and after that there will be a LegCo interactive Q&A session. There will be a lot of chances for us to go through the contents of both the Five-Year Plan and likewise the Policy Address.

(Please likewise describe the Chinese part of the remarks.)