Consultation on Article 23 was chosen through public as the first of the top ten. The other nine are: implementation of the accountability system; twenty-four hour border crossing at Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang checkpoint; reinforcement of measures to stabilize the real estate market; Mr. Tung Chee Hwa's winning of the election of the second chief executive; implementation of regulations to reduce the civil service pay; reinforcement of regulations on ball-betting; adjustment of clinic fees; determined measures to handle budget deficit and successful settlement of the right of abode issue.

The ceremony was attended by Donald Tsang, chief secretary for administration, Wang Fengchao, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong SAR, and Song Masuo, deputy commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR.

Donald Tsang said the result of the voting is a broad and representative view on works of the Hong Kong SAR government over the past year. The SAR Government and its civil servants will make more efforts to do better in administration.

He Zongyao, a middle school student, and Feng Mingjiao, a housewife, got the first prize. Eight people got the second prize, 20 got the third and 160 got the honorable prize.

Zhang Guoliang, president of Wen Wei Po newspaper who takes the lead in organizing the event, said the contest committee has received over 41,000 available votes, an increase of three times compared with the previous year. Voters come from all walks of life, including leaders of leagues, professionals, housewives and students.

Voters' enthusiastic reaction demonstrates Hong Kong residents' intentness on works of the SAR government and their spirit of being masters of their own affairs.

The contest of voting the top-ten SAR government works was initiated from 1998. Co-organizers this year are 29 social organizations and seven China's central media stationed in Hong Kong, including Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Better Hong Kong Foundation and Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong Branch.

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2003)