It's an unforgettable day for 10-year-old Hong Kong boy Chiu Lam Ho, who is at the same age of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), as he played the piano for Chinese President Hu Jintao who visited his family in Ma On Shan on Friday.

 

"Grandpa Hu said I played very well," the boy, who has won a bronze medal in a piano competition in Hong Kong, said with excitement.

 

His father, 43-year-old Chiu Shek-on, who works for a trade company, said "President Hu greeted each member of my family and chatted with us. He is very easy to approach. We are very honored and very happy to have President Hu as our guest."

 

Chiu told the president that he bought the second-hand apartment in Kam Fung Court, Ma On Shan, three years ago on mortgage. Now he pays some 7,000 HK dollars (about US$897) to bank every month.

 

Chiu's wife Lam Lai Hung said her hometown is in Shantou in south China's Guangdong Province. She married Chiu and moved to Hong Kong ten years ago.

 

"I've witnessed the economic development and improvement of people's life over the past decade," said Lam, who teaches Mandarin Chinese, or Putonghua, in a kindergarten and several schools in Hong Kong.

 

"Our life is becoming better and better. As the relations between Hong Kong and the mainland are getting closer, my job is becoming more and more important," said Lam.

 

After visiting Chiu's family, President Hu called on another four-member family in Chung On Estate, Ma On Shan, where the flat occupants, Leung Chi-sing and his wife, are school workers.

 

Chatting with the family, President Hu asked about their work, life and difficulties. Seeing the family living in a small flat, Hu encouraged them to make efforts to improve their life.

 

Leung's daughter told the president that she has just graduated from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and that she majored in costume design.

 

"I want to develop my career both in Hong Kong and the mainland," said the girl.

 

Hu said he hoped to see the new clothes designed by Leung in the future.

 

When the girl said "I wish to let you wear the clothes designed by me," the president laughed and nodded.

 

Hu arrived in Hong Kong earlier on 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 HKSAR.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2007)