President Hu Jintao reaffirmed Wednesday that the new central government will continue to implement the established policies and principles toward the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SARs) and fully support the work of the two SAR governments.
The message was delivered yesterday when Hu met Tung Chee-hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR, and Chief Executive of the Macao SAR Edmund Ho Hau Wah respectively. Both Tung and Edmund Ho were in Beijing for the closing ceremony of the first session of the 10th National People's Congress.
Premier Wen Jiabao also talked respectively with Tung and Edmund Ho yesterday afternoon.
Hu said in his meeting with Tung that, since the returning of Hong Kong to the motherland on July 1, 1997, the Hong Kong SAR government led by Tung had carefully followed the principle of one country, two systems and the Basic Law, overcome diverse difficulties caused by the Asian financial crisis and changing international economic environment, and maintained overall stability in Hong Kong.
"The Hong Kong SAR government in the second term has adopted a range of active measures and improved government efficiency to rejuvenate the Hong Kong's economy in line with the changed situation since it took office, which is fully recognized by the central government," said Hu.
Hu was confident that, under the leadership of Tung's government, Hong Kong residents could overcome their difficulties and start a new page in Hong Kong's development as long as they had faith, were united, strove hard and were progressive.
In the meantime, Premier Wen told Tung in a meeting that Hong Kong's advantages remain, despite its economic difficulties. Wen went further to say that the central government is stepping up efforts to research and implement new initiatives and arrangements to boost economic and trade relations between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.
In a separate meeting with Edmund Ho, Hu said since Macao's return to the motherland in 1999, the SAR government led by Ho had exercised good governance and maintained an all-round development in Macao.
Facts have proven that the principle of one country, two systems is correct and Macao compatriots are fully capable of governing and building the SAR, Hu stressed.
The president also encouraged the SAR government and all Macao compatriots to make sustained and concerted efforts for a brighter future for Macao.
Both Tung and Edmund Ho congratulated Hu on his election as China's president and briefed him on the current situation in Hong Kong and Macao.
(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2003)
