Development is key, Hu tells Tung
The Hong Kong government should give priority to the development of the city to ensure that its citizens enjoy 'concrete benefits', President Hu Jintao said yesterday.
Mr Hu made the remarks at a breakfast meeting with Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa in Santiago, Chile, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum summit.
He also pledged the central government's continued support for Hong Kong.
The meeting, the first between the pair since the Boao meeting held in Hainan in April, lasted for about 45 minutes.
Afterwards, the chief executive would only say that the atmosphere of the meeting was good.
Mr Hu described Hong Kong society as stable and the city's economy as recovering, Xinhua reported last night.
'The quest for development, stability and harmony is the mainstream consensus of the society,' he was quoted by Xinhua as saying.
Mr Hu expressed his hope that the Hong Kong government would continue to maintain the prosperity and stability of the city.
'[It should] continue to put development as the top priority and let the people of Hong Kong enjoy concrete benefits,' he said.
'The central government will continue to follow the actual needs of Hong Kong in caring for and supporting its economic and social development.'
Thanking the central government for its support, Mr Tung said the government would continue to improve the livelihood of the people and help people improve their practical difficulties.
It would also continue to unite the people by ruling in accordance with law, he added.
The breakfast meeting was one of the highlights of Mr Tung's rather low-key presence at the Apec gathering.
On Saturday, Mr Tung met Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, and he was seen conversing with various leaders, including Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in a lounge during the Apec CEOs conference.
