A strong and stable China developing in a rapid and orderly way is not only a sound safeguard for Hong Kong's stability and prosperity, it also opens up unprecedented opportunities to build an even better Hong Kong, said Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Tung Chee Hwa on Wednesday.

Addressing the National Day reception marking the 54th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Tung said the world has witnessed two major events in China: the change of state leadership and the combat against SARS this year.

With determination, Chinese leaders mobilized the whole nation to fight an arduous and soul-stirring battle against the SARS disease, scoring a significant victory at the last. Social and political stability throughout the country makes for a vibrant outlook. Building a well-off society for 1.3 billion people is an impressive landmark in the history of the Chinese nation, said Tung.

In March, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) broke out in Hong Kong. Displaying amazing resilience, the entire community joined with one heart to fight against a virus that still baffles scientists.

Just as soon as the battle had been won, the HKSAR government and the community at large, with the strong support of the central government and the Guangdong provincial government, swiftly launched a series of initiatives aimed to revitalize the economy, including early implementation of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and the expansion of the "individual visits to Hong Kong" program, said Tung.

The HKSAR government has actively responded to the aspirations and concerns of the citizens and seriously reviewed events with an eye to learning lessons from the experience that can be applied to improving the governance, Tung said.

He said that the HKSAR government will do all it can to alleviate people's hardships by fostering steady economic advancement; to redress public grievances by improving governance; and to contribute further to the country and social solidarity by working with the people to achieve a better future.
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(Xinhua News Agency October 2, 2003)