(English original follows) 下文(由港報翻譯)為歐盟駐港澳辦事處主任彭家傑(Vincent Piket)於本年六月五日致中國日報香港版的公開信,就有關歐盟成員國駐港總領事與立法會議員會面一事作出澄清。
致 貴報主編:
貴報於六月五日就有關歐盟成員國駐港總領事與立法會議員會面一事的報導有不盡確實之處,特此致函。
基於對主權原則的尊重,是次與立法會議員的會面其本意並非在於為香港政制改革的爭議提出萬靈丹。相反,本方希望了解各派別對二零一七年行政長官選舉的立場及期望。故本方亦曾於週初與立法會主席曾鈺成先生見面,探討同一議題。
作為關心香港未來,並尊重基本法的一份子,本方確曾於會面時提出希望香港能透過建設性的對話,及時就普選二零一七年行政長官達到共識,並構建一個民主、公平、公開、透明的選舉制度。
貴報的報導再者錯誤地指出歐洲執行委員會主席容克先生(Jean-Claude Juncker)亦有參加上述會面。與會的歐盟代表團實由本人率領。
彭家傑
歐盟駐港澳辦事處主任
Original text in English:
Note to the editor of China Daily Hong Kong edition
Dear Sir,
Your report (5 June) about meetings of the Heads of EU diplomatic missions with members of the Legislative Council may give readers an inaccurate picture of the nature of the meetings.
The purpose of the meetings was not for the EU side to prescribe particular solutions to the electoral reform debate in Hong Kong, as the EU respects the principle of sovereignty in this process. Rather, we wished to hear the respective views and expectations about the reform of the system for electing the Chief Executive in 2017. Earlier in the week, the EU also met with the President of the Legislative Council, Hon. Tsang Yok-sing, to discuss the same.
As a stakeholder in Hong Kong’s future and in line with the Basic Law, in the meetings the EU side did express the hope that, through constructive discussion, Hong Kong will be able to reach a timely agreement on the introduction of universal suffrage for the election of the Chief Executive in 2017, and on an election system which is democratic, fair, open, and transparent.
Your report furthermore incorrectly states that the President of the European Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Juncker, attended the meetings. Instead, the EU delegation was led by the undersigned.
Vincent Piket
Head of the EU Office to Hong Kong and Macao