Wide-ranging discussions are crucial for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) as it faces stiff challenges resulting from economic restructuring and global downturn, according to the territory's Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.
"I am meeting all sorts of people and listening to different opinions everyday, and I will continue doing so," he said after meeting with members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) at his election office in Hong Kong yesterday.
The meeting with LegCo members was one of a series of Tung's ongoing consultation sessions with sub sectors of the Election Committee (EC), through which Tung canvassed for nomination in his bid for the second term in office.
On January 30 and 31, Tung will arrange four separate open sessions with 800 EC members, who will vote for the next SAR leader on March 24.
Tung declared candidacy for a second term as the chief executive on December 13 and outlined five points he will focus on in the next five years.
Referring to some politicians who blamed him for a lack of an official platform, the chief executive said all his ideas of governance and future plans had already been reflected in his five policy addresses and the candidacy speech.
"It is not a time for arguing," he said. "I will be very happy if someone says to me 'let's talk about some plans to improve business and advance economic restructuring,' which, I believe, is very important for the territory.
"If they have another six or seven points to add, I will be delighted and willing to discuss with them each item carefully."
Sources with Tung's election office said a paper summarizing his ideas of governance would come out at the open sessions next week.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Lau Hon-chun, a LegCo and EC member, said it was helpful to exchange views concerning the development of Hong Kong with the chief executive.
James Tien, chairman of the Liberal Party, agreed, adding that the next chief executive should enhance the relations between the Executive Council and the LegCo so as to strengthen administration and improve efficiency.
(China Daily January 23, 2002)
