Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa met eight academics Thursday to listen to their views on policy matters, including measures to promote economic restructuring and to create more job opportunities, educational reforms and various social issues.
The academics come from the fields of political science, urban development, sociology, education, law and economics, a press release from the government's Information Services Department said.
Thursday's meeting was part of the Hong Kong government's effort to maintain a continuing dialogue with different sectors of society in the course of policy formulation, it said.
"We are strengthening various channels of communication in order to feel the pulse of the community and to solicit a broad spectrum of views in our policy-making process. I hope that through closer interaction with representatives from different sectors, we can foster community consensus on our policy initiatives," he was quoted as saying.
Tung said the biggest challenge facing the government is to lead Hong Kong out of one of the worst economic doldrums in its history and to restore the confidence of Hong Kong people.
"The government has been working earnestly to create a favorable business environment attractive to talents and capital, to strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and the mainland and to facilitate the flow of human resources, capital and goods across the border," he added.
Since the start of his second term, Tung has met civil service unions, labor unions, workers, employer representatives, the education profession and youth groups.
(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2002)
