Vice-President Xi Jinping has called on Hong Kong and Macau people to strengthen confidence, stand united and plan ahead for the future to combat the economic crisis.
He spelled out his hopes to more than 100 Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference delegates from the two special administrative regions yesterday, as they met in Beijing for its annual plenum.
During the two-hour closed-door discussion, chaired by CPPCC vice-chairman and former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa, Mr Xi reiterated that the central government always stood behind Hong Kong and Macau and would support the two cities in combating the financial crisis.
Members who attended the meeting cited Mr Xi as laying out three expectations for them during the financial crisis - to boost confidence and help Hong Kong make use of its advantages, to 'stay in the same boat' and curb challenges, and to plan for the long term and change crises into opportunities. Most of the 13 delegates who spoke at the meeting raised economic issues.
Mr Xi met Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen later in the evening to discuss the latest developments in Hong Kong, according to a source close to Mr Tsang.