Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (January 4):
 
Reporter: On COVID, figures are at an eight-month high. Will this affect plans to reopen the border? And experts have said they are really struggling to find out and trace people who have been at the restaurant in question. Will the "LeaveHomeSafe" app be upgraded as they've suggested? And second, last week, and on several other occasions, you denied there was a chilling effect over press freedom concerns. With Citizen News citing vague laws and staff safety as their reason to close, do you accept that, you know, this is a perfect example of the chilling effect? And third, you just mentioned meeting the HKJA (Hong Kong Journalists Association). Would you be willing to meet them again to discuss some of these concerns? Thanks.
 
Chief Executive: First of all, the spread of the Omicron variant into Hong Kong community is worrying because of the high transmissibility of this variant. That's why we have taken all the measures that we have put in place as a result of two years of experience in fighting COVID-19. But inevitably, with a local infection of Omicron, although the several cases now confirmed could all be traced back to an imported case according to the analysis, that will certainly have an impact on the ongoing discussions with the Mainland authorities on resuming some normal travel. I would not deny that that has an impact, which means that we will have to wait another while before we could put in place this very sought-after resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland.
 
     The second point is about the tracing. I heard some experts were still commenting on the effectiveness of Hong Kong's tracing system, but I would say that actually, Hong Kong's contact tracing system was pretty effective. If you imagine, with a restaurant with 64 tables involving 207 customers, within a few days we managed to trace 201 and managed to put them into a quarantine centre for 21 days. That was a major achievement by the contact tracing office. By the way, the contact tracing office already involves a lot of disciplinary colleagues. I heard one person saying that, "Why don't you call the Police?" The Police and other disciplinary colleagues have already been deployed to the contact tracing office for quite some time. I think that we have been very effective and the "LeaveHomeSafe" app has broken the record of giving notification to more than 30 000 people who may have patronised this restaurant and other places and hence they have come forward for their compulsory testing in the last few days.
 
     But other than commending the efforts of my own colleagues, I would really want to take this occasion to express my deepest appreciation to the people of Hong Kong. Hong Kong would not have come that far in controlling COVID-19 without the full co-operation of our people. This high discipline of wearing a mask, this willingness to comply with the RTD, that is the restriction-testing declaration, or the CTN, the compulsory testing notice, and being put in quarantine for 21 days through no fault of their own, I really want to thank the people of Hong Kong and they deserve to be recognised by all of us in fighting this epidemic.
 
     Now, about press freedom, there have been a lot of criticisms, especially from the Western media, about the closure of these two online media organisations. I could not, on behalf of these two organisations and their responsible people, explain what they mean by a "chilling effect". But I certainly would strongly refute any allegation that this is related to the implementation of the National Security Law. If implementation of the National Security Law would undermine press freedom, then we would not be seeing any press freedom in the Western world. You name me which Western country does not have national security law. They have national security legislation far more draconian than the Hong Kong National Security Law, which is very well defined – it covers offences clearly defined and we already have three convicted cases in court. All these rules and basis have been clearly laid out, so I would really dispute that allegation. Similarly, this morning when I read news saying that because of the closure of an online media organisation, press freedom in Hong Kong faces extinction, or Hong Kong's free press faces collapse, I just could not accept that sort of allegations.
 
     Nothing is more important than the rule of law in Hong Kong, and journalists and media organisations, like all of us, have to respect and comply with the law. If they are fearful of not being able to comply with the law, then they have to make up their mind and take the necessary decisions. Thank you.
 
Reporter: Will you meet the JA?
 
Chief Executive: I have no plan to meet it. I was referring to the meeting when I took office. I just want to say that when I took office, I've been as liberal as possible in engaging people from different parts of the political spectrum. But what has happened? Nobody could anticipate that actually Hong Kong was under that sort of very severe challenges with a lot of people advocating independence, colluding with foreign forces and undermining the power of the state as well as the Hong Kong SAR Government.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (January 4) that Yuen Long Swimming Pool in Yuen Long District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 7.05pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

     To promote positive parent education and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Education Bureau (EDB) is organising the Light Up a Bright Future with Your Child video production competition on parent education, and issued a circular memorandum to all kindergartens as well as primary and secondary schools today (January 4) to inform them of the details of the competition and encourage schools, students and parents to actively participate in the event.
      
     A spokesman for the EDB said, "The EDB has been holding the Positive Parent Campaign since June 2020 and has all along been promoting positive parent education through extensive and diversified channels to foster parents' positive thinking and the proper ways and attitudes of raising children. The objective is to foster a positive mindset amongst parents in nurturing their children, with a view to helping their children learn effectively and grow happily."
      
     The spokesman said, "The competition aims to promote the proper ways and attitudes of raising children and encourage parents to adopt positive parenting approaches to nurture their children, with a view to building a bright future together. The competition gives an opportunity for students, parents and the public to unleash their creativity and use videos to express how parents and children work together to establish a good parent-child relationship. The Committee on Home-School Co-operation, the Hong Kong Island School Heads Association, the Kowloon Region School Heads Association, the New Territories School Heads Association and the Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations of the 18 districts have all become the supporting organisations of this event."
      
     In addition to schools, members of the public are also welcome to participate in the competition. The competition is divided into four groups, namely the Primary Group, the Secondary Group, the Parent-child Group and the Open Group. Participants of the Primary, Secondary and Parent-child Groups must enter the competition on a group basis while participants of the Open Group can enter the competition on either an individual or group basis. The panel of adjudicators will select a Champion, a First Runner-up, a Second Runner-up and five Merit Prizes for each group.
      
     Furthermore, there is a Most Liked Award for each group, which will be selected through public voting. The schools that have submitted the highest number of valid entries in the Primary Group and in the Secondary Group will be awarded a Most Active Participating School Award. Apart from receiving certificates of commendation, the winners will be invited to attend the Prize Presentation Ceremony cum Exhibition of Winning Entries. All those interested in participating in the competition can visit the activity website (www.parent.edu.hk/en/article/video_competition) for application and submission of entries from January 18 onwards. The deadline for submission is April 11.

     To let those interested in participating in the competition learn professional techniques of video production, the EDB will hold three workshops on video production as well as video shooting and editing in January and February. Interested parties can visit the activity website for details. Online application for the workshops will commence at 4pm on January 10 on a first-come, first-served basis.

     For the updates of activities and information of the Positive Parent Campaign, please visit the EDB's Smart Parent Net website (www.parent.edu.hk/en).

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 4) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the General Veterinary Inspectorate of Poland about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Santarém District in Portugal, King's Lynn & West Norfolk District of Norfolk County in the United Kingdom (UK), and Milicki District and Åšredzki District of DolnoÅ›lÄ…skie Region in Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
 
     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, no poultry meat or eggs were imported into Hong Kong from Portugal in the first nine months of last year. Moreover, Hong Kong imported about 70 tonnes of chilled poultry meat, about 2 970 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 250 000 poultry eggs from the UK; and about 4 070 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 24.82 million poultry eggs from Poland in the first nine months of last year.
 
     "The CFS has contacted the Portuguese, British and Polish authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     Ringing in the tiger for a bright year to come, Hongkong Post will issue Lunar New Year special stamps themed on the "Year of the Tiger" on January 18 (Tuesday), including a set of four mint stamps and a stamp sheetlet showing the tiger in different handicrafts, "Heartwarming Stamps" mini-panes, a silk stamp sheetlet, and the "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – Ox/Tiger", celebrating the festive season and a joyful Year of the Tiger ahead.
      
     The four mint stamps display respectively a tiger soft toy, a porcelain tiger, a ceramic tiger and a paper art tiger that look playful and adorable against a warm gradient background with embroidered plants, heralding good luck in the Year of the Tiger. The stamp sheetlet features a porcelain tiger wearing an embroidered tiger hat, which is a common gift for children in Chinese tradition, bearing wishes for good health. A vibrant floral cloth in red decorates the background and composes a jolly new year mood. Hongkong Post is also issuing a silk stamp sheetlet where fine patterns are printed on exquisite silk, making it a prestigious collectible for a prosperous Year of the Tiger. Stamp lovers must not miss it.
      
     On the "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – Ox/Tiger", there is a pair of ox and tiger stamps set against a background of a mountain landscape in Chinese art strokes sprinkled with spring blossoms, each in a denomination of $50, lavishly finished in silver foil and gold plating respectively. The strong and diligent ox and the lively and courageous tiger wish everyone a share of the vigorous spirit of tiger and good health in the coming year.
      
     Official first day covers for "Year of the Tiger" and official souvenir covers for the "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – Ox/Tiger" will be put on sale at all post offices, while prestige version of the aforesaid covers will be put on sale at all philatelic offices and on Hongkong Post's online shopping mall "ShopThruPost" (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) from today.
      
     The special stamps and other associated philatelic products (including first day cover, mint stamps, stamp sheetlet, silk stamp sheetlet, presentation pack, Lunar New Year animals souvenir cover, postage prepaid Lunar New Year greeting cards, serviced first day cover, serviced Lunar New Year animals souvenir cover and "Heartwarming Stamps" mini-panes and red packets) will be available at post offices starting from January 18. Customers may also place online orders for the above philatelic products on "ShopThruPost" (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) from 8am on the same day.

     â€‹Furthermore, a newly designed 2022 souvenir cover is available at all philatelic offices and on Hongkong Post's online shopping mall "ShopThruPost" (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) from January 3.
      
     Information about this set of special stamps and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk) and the "ShopThruPost" mobile app.