Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday to attend
the signing ceremony of Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement
(CEPA) and celebration activities marking the sixth anniversary of
Hong Kong's return to the motherland.
Some 140 children waving national flags, regional flags of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and flowers were present
at the Hong Kong International Airport to welcome him.
Premier Wen was greeted at the airport by HKSAR Chief Executive
Tung Chee Hwa, HKSAR's Administrative Secretary Donald Tsang,
Financial Secretary Antony Leung, Secretary for Justice Elsie
Leung, President of the Hong Kong Legislative Council Rita Fan, and
member of the Executive Council Leung Chun-ying.
The Premier was presented with bouquets of flowers by a child, with
a military band striking up a tune of welcome.
"This is my first time to come to Hong Kong, a place of the
motherland," Premier Wen told reporters at the airport.
"I'm very glad to come here to see the compatriots of Hong Kong,"
he said.
Premier Wen asked the reporters to convey his greetings to the
compatriots of Hong Kong.
During his three-day stay here, Premier Wen will also attend a
meeting held by the Hong Kong government to praise Hong Kong
medical workers and other people for their fight against SARS, meet
people from all walks of life and visit some large-scale
projects.
Wen's entourage arriving aboard the same plane in Hong Kong
include: Tang Jiaxuan, State Councilor; Liao Hui, vice chairman of
the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and director of the Hong Kong and
Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; Ma Kai, minister in
charge of the State Development and Reform Commission; Lu Fuyuan,
minister of Commerce; Wei Liqun, director of the Research Office of
the State Council; You Quan, deputy Secretary-General of the State
Council, and Qiu Xiaoxiong, director of the Premier's Office of the
State Council.
Among those present at the airport to greet Premier Wen were also
Gao Siren, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's
Government in the HKSAR; Ji Peiding, commissioner of the Foreign
Affairs Ministry in the HKSAR; Wang Jitang, commander of the
People's Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison in Hong Kong; Wang Yufa,
political commissar of the PLA Garrison in Hong Kong, and other
officials.
(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2003)