Vice President Zeng Qinghong spent two days in Hong Kong fulfilling a packed schedule of more than 10 appointments non-stop. These focused on the central theme of his visit, featuring three key elements.

The first element was visits to local communities, to get up close and personal with Hong Kong residents. He said clearly as soon as he arrived in the SAR that he intends to take this opportunity to meet and talk with Hong Kong compatriots. Yesterday he visited a residential block in Kowloon and had an intimate chat with one of the households there. He also went to a senior citizens' nursing home and wished the residents good health and a happy and long life.

Showing his customary friendliness to the full, Zeng was very attentive to details when he met with local residents, always humble and easy-going with his disarming smile. He even spoke a phrase in reasonably accurate Cantonese on several occasions. The phrase he used means "creating opportunities of happiness for the people," a line borrowed from Chief Executive Donald Tsang's inaugural speech. It conveys to Hong Kong's society a feeling of warmth and harmony.

The second element was to observe the economy, and encourage people from all walks of life in Hong Kong to join efforts in advancing economic recovery with one heart and one soul. He listened attentively to introductions given by SAR government officials in charge of economy and finance when he visited the International Financial Centre, and expressed great concern over maintaining the centre's key role in the world market.

At the welcoming banquet held in his honour last night, Zeng spoke of his expectations of his Hong Kong compatriots, one of which is to seize the opportunity to speed up development. He also reiterated the central government would as always spare no efforts in supporting Hong Kong's economic development and efforts to improve people's livelihoods.

The third key element was to promote social harmony. He called on people from all walks of life to embrace tolerance and mutual assistance, seek consensus without abandoning one's own ideals and protect stability.

The fact that people of different political beliefs, including members of the Legislative Council who have always held grudges against the Communist Party of China and the central government, were invited to take part in the welcoming banquet is worth our appreciation.

As the top state leader in charge of Hong Kong and Macao affairs, Zeng set a good example of promoting social harmony in Hong Kong, with great dignity and sincerity. This brings to mind the fact that almost all members of the Legislative Council will go on a study tour of Guangdong Province later this month for what has been billed as an "ice-breaking" trip. It further proves the central government's sincere expectation for social harmony in Hong Kong.

His "enthusiastic support" for Chief Executive Tsang and the SAR government was reflected in numerous ways during his stay in Hong Kong. While chatting with a local family at a residential block in Kowloon, he said Hong Kong residents should support the SAR government's good decisions.

His busy schedule on the short visit does not diminish the significance of Vice President Zeng's presence here. It also offers plenty of food for thought.

(China Daily September 12, 2005)