Premier Zhu Rongji Thursday told visiting Hong Kong Chief Secretary
for Administration Donald Tsang that Beijing will try its best to
help Hong Kong get through its current economic difficulties.
Briefing the media after a one-hour meeting with Zhu at Zhongnanhai
in Beijing Thursday, Tsang said he was thankful that Zhu had shown
strong support and encouragement for Hong Kong's economy.
Tsang quoted Zhu as saying: "I believe Hong Kong can successfully
overcome the temporary hardship, as it has strong bases."
Zhu said Hong Kong still had its advantages in comparison to the
Chinese mainland, including a complete legal system, a free market,
a good civil-service system, and an atmosphere of freedom.
If
Hong Kong keeps these advantages, it will be easier to overcome the
current economic difficulties, Zhu said.
Tsang was on a five-day duty report trip to Beijing.
When meeting Zhu Thursday, Tsang told Zhu that Hong Kong people
were now undergoing a painful restructuring period.
Hong Kong's economy is bleeding badly as the world economy has yet
to emerge from one of its worst periods.
The latest statistics released by the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) Government Thursday showed that the
jobless rate in the past three months had reached a record high of
6.7 percent.
The army of the unemployed has grown to 219,000 people, 10,000 more
than the previous quarter.
Tsang added: "But I think Hong Kong people's flexibility and zeal
to work hard remain.
"The common people, the legislature and the SAR Government are
working together to make a better Hong Kong and help its economy to
recover more quickly."
Tsang also told Zhu how Hong Kong has been co-operating with the
Pearl River Delta areas to achieve a win-win situation.
Zhu said it was wise for Hong Kong to look to the Pearl River
areas, as these areas were a precious region where the
infrastructure and other facilities were developing well.
The central government will support Hong Kong as much as possible
in its development of the Pearl River Delta areas, said Zhu.
(China
Daily February 22, 2002)
