Speaking to reporters, Leung Saturday confirmed the reports. "Everybody has seen today's reports. I'm very happy to confirm that Fu Mingxia and I are dating. The contents of the media reports are accurate.

"However, this is a private matter between myself and Fu Mingxia and I hope that everyone will help by giving us our privacy."

The Chinese-language Ming Pao daily reported that 50-year-old Leung would marry Fu, 23, within a year.

Both parties had agreed they would wait until Fu completed her studies at China's elite Tsinghua University before tying the knot.

Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa told reporters: "I wish them both well."

Leung will continue his political career in Hong Kong, while Fu will settle in the territory, the report added.

Leung divorced his wife in 1998. They have no children.

Before succeeding Donald Tsang as financial secretary in May last year, Leung served in senior management positions for several international banks.

Fu's diving heroics have made her a national star. She became the youngest World Champion in 1991, aged 12, and followed that up with gold in the 1992 Olympics. She captured two gold medals four years later at the Atlanta games and struck gold again in Sydney 2000.

(People?s Daily March 25, 2002)