Hu pledges to support Tsang, HKSAR govt
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-27 21:41

President Hu Jintao had a meeting here on Tuesday with Donald Tsang, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), to hear the latter's report on his job.

President Hu Jintao shakes hands with Donald Tsang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, during their meeting in Beijing, Dec. 27, 2005. Donald Tsang arrived here Tuesday for a duty visit. [Xinhua]

After Tsang's report, the president said that Hong Kong's overall situation is good, featuring sustained economic growth, social stability, and improved living standards.

The central government is satisfied with the work of Tsang and the HKSAR government, Hu said, pledging to continue to wholeheartedly support the chief executive and the HKSAR government.

Regarding the HKSAR government's consultation with the public on methods for selecting the chief executive in 2007 and forming the Legislative Council in 2008, Hu said that the HKSAR government's package for constitutional development is in conformity with the Basic Law and relevant explanations and resolutions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), that it has won wide support from the public, and is a plan that further promotes democracy.

The constitutional development in Hong Kong concerns the principle of "one country, two systems", the implementation of theBasic Law in Hong Kong, the interests of all walks of life in HongKong, and long-term prosperity and stability Hong Kong, he pointedout. "The central authorities have always attached great importance to it," he stressed.

The central authorities have constantly supported the HKSAR's development of democracy in accordance with the Basic Law and HongKong realities, the president said.

The implementation of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong", and a high degree of autonomy aims tomake Hong Kong compatriots masters of their own destiny and able to exercise their democratic rights, Hu said. But as in any country or region, where the development of democracy is a gradual,historical process, the development of democracy in Hong Kong alsohas to be promoted in a step-by-step, substantial and orderly way,he said.