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CE meets US Congressional delegation
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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, met a US Congressional delegation led by the Chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, Mr Henry Hyde, this afternoon (December 3) and exchanged views on the latest developments in Hong Kong as well as economic and trade relations between Hong Kong and the US.
Mr Tung told the delegation that "One Country, Two Systems" had been successfully implemented in Hong Kong.
On constitutional development, he said Hong Kong citizens had enjoyed unprecedented democracy since reunification in 1997. "Hong Kong's political structure is developing under the principle of gradual and orderly progress and moving towards the ultimate aim of universal suffrage, in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law and the decision made by the Standing
Committee of the National People's Congress.
"Hong Kong people are capable of dealing with their own affairs well," Mr Tung said.
He pointed out that as part of China, Hong Kong enjoyed a high degree of autonomy under the Basic Law, but it had to respect the constitutional order and relationship between the Central Authorities and the Special Administrative Region as stipulated in the Basic Law.
"Hong Kong's democratic development has made substantial progress since reunification. The number of directly elected seats of the Legislative Council has increased from 20 in 1998 to 30 this year," Mr Tung told the delegation.
The Chief Executive also discussed with the delegation developments on the Mainland.
"Chinese state leaders have repeatedly said in public that the Government would hold fast to the principle of maintaining world peace and promoting common development as well as playing the role of a responsible leading country in the international arena."
"In recent years our country has seen rapid economic development and modernisation, and its international status has been rising. Hong Kong people are proud of our motherland's achievements. Our country's policy towards Hong Kong has won widespread support from home and abroad," he said.
Ends/Friday, December 3, 2004
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