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Hu lauds Hong Kong progress

Tributes to Deng over “one country, two systems” concept

HONG KONG: Chinese President Hu Jintao swore in Hong Kong’s Chief Executive for a new term on Sunday and reminded the territory that the motherland comes first, as the city embarked upon its second decade under Beijing’s rule.

Hong Kongers celebrated the anniversary of the territory’s 1997 return to Chinese rule, watching People’s Liberation Army parachutists perform stunt jumps, viewing a parade, and watching a fireworks display in the evening.

“One country is a pre-requisite of two systems,” he said at a ceremony to swear in Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang and his Cabinet for a five-year term.

“One country means that one must uphold the power vested with the Central Government and China’s sovereignty, unity and security.”

Mr. Hu extended greetings to all the people in Hong Kong, and congratulations to Mr. Tsang, his team and members of the Executive Council. He paid tributes to Deng Xiaoping, who creatively put forward the scientific concept of “one country, two systems” and personally oversaw China’s negotiations with Britain on Hong Kong and the drafting of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR, and to Jiang Zemin, who made historical contribution to the smooth return and transition of Hong Kong and the successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” concept.

Mr. Hu said Hong Kong’s success over the past 10 years shows that the Hong Kong people are fully capable of managing their region well and sustaining its growth. During the past decade, the two chief executives, Tung Chee Hwa and Donald Tsang, with the full support of the Central Government, led the HKSAR Government and people in meeting such grave challenges as the Asian financial crisis and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Mr. Hu said.

At midnight on Saturday, Chinese officials attended a Buddhist bell-chiming ceremony along with chanting monks to mark the countdown to midnight, the moment Britain handed the territory back . On Sunday, at 9 a.m., white-uniformed Hong Kong police band played the national anthem to kick off the celebrations. Mr. Tsang then ascended the podium to take his oath.

Principal officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and members of the Executive Council also took their oaths.

After the inauguration, Mr. Tsang addressed the gathering, expressing his gratitude to the Central Government and Hong Kong citizens for their support for the HKSAR Government, and vowing to go all out to do his job well.

“I solemnly pledge to do my utmost to get my job done in the best interests of Hong Kong and our country, as I promised during my election campaign,” said Mr. Tsang.

He said, in the next five years, he would try his best to build a Government that is more open, develop a system that is more democratic, promote a new mode of economic development, create a better quality of life. — AP, Xinhua

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