Updated at 6.56pm: China's Premier Zhu Rongji wanted to encourage rather than criticise the SAR Government, the Chief Secretary for Administration said on Friday.

Arriving in Los Angeles on Friday for his first US visit since taking up the post in May, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen sought to play down the controversies arising from the premier's remarks.

Mr Zhu reportedly said during his European tour that ''we cannot always discuss without decisions, make decisions without execution''.

Mr Tsang said ''we should not be too sensitive towards each and every praise or criticism. If you think you are wrong, you change. If you think others praise you, you just say Thank you and that's it. So we need not be so concerned. But Premier Zhu cares about us very much. I believe what he said were indeed some encouraging remarks''