Hu: More confident about HK's future
(Xinhua)

Chinese President Hu Jintao waves upon his arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong June 29, 2007. Hu is on a three-day visit to Hong Kong for celebrating the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China. [Reuters]

Hong Kong -- Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived here by special plane at about 11:30 a.m. Friday to attend the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China and the swearing-in ceremony of the third-term government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and his wife Liu Yongqing flew into Hong Kong from Beijing.

HKSAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen mounted the special plane to welcome Hu Jintao and his wife. Two Hong Kong children presented bouquets of flowers to them.

Hu told reporters at the airport that "the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China is a happy event for Hong Kong and for the whole country as well."

"I'm sincerely happy about Hong Kong's achievements since returning to the motherland 10 years ago, and I'm even more confident about Hong Kong's future," Hu said.

The government of the HKSAR has united and led all the Hong Kong people in overcoming all sorts of difficulties and risks with the support of the central government and the people of the motherland, resulting in Hong Kong's progress and brilliant achievements, Hu said.

He added that the HKSAR government has gained experience in successfully running Hong Kong under the principle of "one country, two systems."

Hu said he is looking forward to witnessing Hong Kong's new changes, new developments and new progress and to sharing the happiness with the Hong Kong people on the occasion of the 10th return anniversary.

Among Hu's entourage who arrived aboard the same plane were Wang Gang, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee; Sheng Huaren, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC); Tang Jiaxuan, state councilor; Liao Hui, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; and Liang Guanglie, member of the Central Military Commission and chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Hu and his entourage were greeted at the airport by HKSAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang's wife Selina Tsang, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal Andrew Li Kwok-nang; Chief Secretary for Administration Rafael Hui Si-yan; Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen; Secretary for Justice Wong Yan Lung; President of the Legislative Council Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai; and Leung Chun-ying, convenor of the non-official members of the Executive Council.

Gao Siren, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Lu Xinhua, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR; and Wang Jitang, commander, and Zhang Rucheng, political commissar, of the Chinese PLA Garrison in the HKSAR, were also present at the airport to greet President Hu.