Clarification was also sought regarding whether the change in responsibilities that had led to the proposal to change the title of the post were substantial enough to necessitate its re-advertisement.

It expressed concern regarding the increasing tension in the south, where the Government ignored claims related to basic services and development issues, which had led to demonstrations resulting in confrontations with security forces.

The Organization’s assumption that media, and increasingly ICTs, can serve as platforms for cultural self-expression, mutual understanding and tolerance has proved correct and the ongoing activities have been linked with those of the Alliance of Civilizations led by the United Nations.

The serious engagement of Palestinian factions over the past month in a dialogue process mediated by Egypt has led to the establishment of five committees that are working on national reconciliation issues, the successful outcome of the Cairo international conference on the reconstruction of Gaza and the further efforts of the Palestinian Authority to improve socio-economic rehabilitation and reconstruction, especially in the face of the devastating global financial crisis.

It is expected that the long-term strategic development plan of Ocean Park will be submitted to the working group led by the Financial Secretary in October. I hope the authorities concerned can then carry out a detailed study and expeditiously submit and implement a practical proposal, so as to further enhance the attractiveness of Hong Kong to tourists, promote the long-term development of Hong Kong economy and maintain Hong Kong's vital position as an international tourist centre.

The main transmission mechanisms of the financial and economic crisis that have had negative impacts on women’s economic empowerment, especially in developing countries, have been the global decline in exports, which has directly affected production in the export sector and subsequently domestic markets through negative multiplier effects (especially in export-dependent economies); significant declines in capital flows to the developing world; the pro-cyclical nature of aid; the impact of the crisis on migrant workers and therefore on remittances; the consequent exchange rate devaluation, which has affected domestic production and prices; the impact of extreme volatility in global food prices; and the fiscal constraints in many developing countries that have already led to cutbacks in important public expenditures and social development gains, thereby affecting access to basic services, reversing social development gains and adversely affecting their quality of life.

For example, investigations on anti-corruption with regard to big international companies have sometimes led to diminishing aid from countries where those companies are based, hence sending the signal that transparency is expected of local officials but should not apply to multinationals.

The Marrakech task forces are voluntary initiatives led by Governments focusing on seven specific themes: (a) “Education for sustainable consumption”, (b) “Sustainable tourism”, (c) “Sustainable public procurement”, (d) “Sustainable products”, (e) “Sustainable buildings and construction”, (f) “Cooperation with Africa” and (g) “Sustainable lifestyles”.

Please provide statistical information on the number of cases in which detainees have alleged that their confessions were extracted through torture, the number of such complaints which led to investigations, and the outcomes of these investigations, including punishments meted out to convicted perpetrators, if any, and reparations and compensation offered to victims, if any.

In hot pursuit of environment-friendly society and innovative lighting, around the year 2000, Mr. Shen Gumao predicted that a better new illuminant must appear in the early 50 years of the 21st century, which is closely connected with the progress of electron device and electronic circuit; and he also forecasted that there would be two excellent illuminants in the future, one of them, the semiconductor LED, and the other one, electrodeless discharge illuminant, namely induction lamp, whose lighting effect and color rendering would obviously be increased in comparison with traditional lights and which would be energy-saving and pollution-free.