Leung Chun-ying wins praise and pledge of support from Li Keqiang
Li Keqiang notes city's growth and low jobless rate during meeting with the chief executive
The government of Leung Chun-ying won words of encouragement from state leaders yesterday as the chief executive began his duty visit to Beijing.
Leung started his three-day visit by briefing National People's Congress chairman Zhang Dejiang on the progress of a five-month consultation on political reform launched earlier this month, before meeting Premier Li Keqiang.
"Zhang reiterated that the central government was 'genuine and sincere' about the reform … and hoped the SAR government would accomplish the … constitutional reform to implement one-man, one-vote in the 2017 chief executive election," Leung said.
Li also reiterated his support for Leung's administration and praised its progress - in contrast to his predecessor Wen Jiabao , who emphasised during the chief executive's previous duty visit that Leung's team had much work to do.
"The central government will support the SAR government and chief executive to strictly adhere to the law," Li told Leung in his office at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound.
While Wen set out six problems areas for Leung to address, including housing, poverty and the city's ageing population, Li noted the steady economic growth and low unemployment rate Hong Kong had achieved.
But he warned Leung to stay alert to global financial instability, which might bring uncertainty in the year ahead.