Gao Siren, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), said Tuesday that in Hong Kong's economic development lie Hong Kong people's greatest interests.

Addressing a Chinese Lunar New Year reception hosted by the Liaison Office and extending new year greetings to people from all walks of life in Hong Kong, Gao said the year 2003 witnessed Hong Kong's victory against SARS and its efforts for economic recovery.

In his speech, Gao made it clear that the Chinese central government has attached great care to Hong Kong's circumstances, and staged a series of concrete measures to support Hong Kong's struggle against various difficulties.

Measures he cited are the initiation of Chinese mainlanders visiting Hong Kong on an individual basis, allowing Hong Kong banks to engage in the RMB business and the inking of the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement between Hong Kong and the mainland (CEPA).

Gao also listed the factors which showcased Hong Kong's economic betterment, namely, the activation of the Hong Kong stock market and property market, the drop of Hong Kong's unemployment rate, and slowdown of Hong Kong's deflation, and the enhancement of Hong Kong's consumers' confidence.

He called on the people of Hong Kong, bestowed with the golden opportunity for economic growth, to focus their efforts on the task so as to improve their livelihood, where lie the greatest interests of Hong Kong residents.

(People's Daily February 4, 2004)