Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa said Friday Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has been making efforts on realizing the millennium targets set by the United Nations.

He made the remarks at the "United Nations Symposium on development programs in China and United Nations/Hong Kong partnership" held in Hong Kong Friday.

Tung said the world leaders agreed to the Millennium Development Goals in September, 2000. These goals are a set of measurable targets designed to overcome development problems like poverty and illiteracy.

The Millennium development goals are commitments to social progress and improving people's well-being. As Chinese, Hong Kong residents are extremely proud of the significant progress made towards these goals.

He said the Chinese mainland's development has a significant impact on the Hong Kong economy as well. As a relatively affluent society, Hong Kong has been able to deploy our resources to improve the quality of life of Hong Kong citizens through regular upgrading of amenities and institutions. However, there is a need to form a long-term view of the priorities for Hong Kong's sustainable development, rather than simply relying on incremental policy-making.

Hong Kong established a Council for Sustainable Development in March, last year. The council's remit includes advising the government on the formulation of a long-term strategy. To this end, the council has been working on a process to engage the community in identifying long-term priorities for Hong Kong in certain key areas.

The first stage of the strategy has been to prepare a consultative document on three Pilot Areas that have relevance for Hong Kong's future sustainability - renewable energy, management of solid waste, and urban living space.

The second stage of the process will be to canvass community views on how Hong Kong should develop its long-term policies in the three pilot areas.

He said, with the support of the central government, Hong Kong enjoys good relations with members of the UN family. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and some other UN organization have set up offices in Hong Kong.

(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2004)