President Hu Jintao??met on Monday with Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa in Macao, where both attended the celebrations of the fifth anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

Hu said that after more than a year of effort by Tung and the HKSAR government, together with the support of the central government, Hong Kong has been developing soundly. The central government has made a positive assessment of the work of Tung and the HKSAR government.

The president stated that the HKSAR government and Hong Kong people should enhance unity, making concerted efforts and supporting each other in consolidating and advancing the existing sound situation in Hong Kong.

He also urged the HKSAR government to enhance its orientation toward the people in its administration, push economic development, improve people's livelihoods and respond positively to issues of common concern.

The president also called on the HKSAR government to review earnestly the process of its implementation of the principles of one country, two systems and Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy. It should improve governance to better administrate and build Hong Kong.

The president listened to Tung's report on his work and met with other principal officials of the HKSAR government.

Hu pledged that the central government would make every effort to provide support and assistance to the HKSAR government.

Tung thanked the central government and the mainland for their care and support. He stated that his government would continue to administer affairs according to law, improve governance, unite the people and strive to maintain prosperity and stability.

Among those present at the meeting were Wang Gang, alternate member of the Politburo, member of the Secretariat and director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee; Tang Jiaxuan, state councilor; Liao Hui, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office; and Liang Guanglie, member of the Central Military Commission and chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army.

Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen, and other top officials of the HKSAR government were also present, along with Macao SAR Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah.

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2004)