Premier Zhu Rongji reaffirmed the central government's commitment
Monday to take any necessary measures to promote prosperity and
secure stability for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(HKSAR).
In
a meeting with HKSAR Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa in Beijing, Zhu
said he was sanguine that HK still has the capacity to overcome the
current economic difficulties.
Tung was in Beijing to deliver his annual report to the central
government.
Premier Zhu also earlier in the day met Edmund Ho Haw Wah, chief
executive of Macao Special Administrative Region who was also in
Beijing to report work in his region.
"HK still claims many advantages that can buoy its economic
strength and competitiveness,'' said Zhu.
Zhu credited Tung Monday by acknowledging that under his
governance, in the past five years, since HK's handover from
British rule, the region has maintained stability against the odds,
given the Asian financial crisis of 1997 and the adverse impact of
external economic changes.
The current global slowdown on trade and business is being felt by
HK, one of the financial hubs in Asia Pacific and one of the most
dynamic economic activities in the region.
"Despite all of these difficulties, the HK people have managed to
maintain the SAR's position as an international trade, finance and
shipping centre,'' said Zhu.
Tung responded to Zhu's encouragement and endorsements by saying
that the central government had done much to maintain HK's
prosperity and stability during the worst period of financial
turmoil.
He
went on to say that Beijing's commitment not to devalue renminbi
had served as the most solid back-up for HK when it was faced with
the repercussions of the global financial crisis.
In
his meeting with Ho, Zhu said that he hoped Macao could gradually
improve its industrial structure and forge roads into other
business areas as a way to promote the overall advance of both its
economy and society.
Ho
expressed his gratitude to Zhu for his commitment and support of
Macao.
(China Daily December 10, 2002)