'Gift' to boost HK-mainland ties

Prior to the anniversary celebrations, the central government and the SAR government have announced a slew of new policies with the aim to unleash potentials of mainland-Hong Kong cooperation, boost the local economy and improve the people's livelihood, which have been interpreted by many locals as a "big gift" to the city.

On Friday, the mainland announced a detailed plan to foster a special zone in the southern boomtown of Shenzhen neighboring Hong Kong to forge closer cooperation between the city and the mainland.

Meanwhile, a new supplementary agreement to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement was signed to open the mainland market wider to Hong Kong service industries, which contributed to more than 90 percent of the city's annual economic output.

The agreement provided for a total of 43 measures for services liberalization and trade and investment facilitation, covering 22 service sectors such as education, medical treatment, construction, telecommunication, banking, brokerage, tourism and railway transportation.

On the same day, the central government issued 23 billion yuan (3.64 billion U.S. dollars) in yuan-denominated sovereign bonds in Hong Kong to support the city's economy.

The central government also vowed to promote the further development of the offshore yuan market in Hong Kong, which will help secure Hong Kong's status as a major international financial hub.

Garrison told to safeguard HK

On Friday afternoon, President Hu, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected the Chinese People's Liberation Army ( PLA) Garrison in the HKSAR at Shek Kong barracks.

In the company of Zhang Shibo, commander of the PLA Garrison in the HKSAR, Hu consecutively inspected troops in 15 formations of more than 3,000 soldiers, including guard of honor, army, navy, air force, women soldiers, infantry, armored force and helicopters.

About 4,000 spectators, including Hong Kong youths attending the garrison's military summer camp and college students who received military training in recent years, were present on the occasion.

The PLA Hong Kong garrison is responsible for defense in Hong Kong since its return to the motherland in 1997.

In his meeting with garrison officers, Hu spoke highly of the garrison for the impressive performance of officers and soldiers in fulfilling various missions over the past 15 years, which has won them wide praise from Hong Kong citizens.

He urged the garrison to steadfastly abide by the Basic Law and Garrison Law of the HKSAR, boost capacity building to fulfill multiple military tasks, and try to be models in loving Hong Kong and putting the citizens first, so as to make greater contribution for the city's long-term prosperity and stability.