President Hu Jintao said Wednesday that the central government will continue to implement the basic policy of "One Country, Two Systems", pledging full support for the governments of Hong Kong and Macao to maintain long-term prosperity and stability in the two regions.

President Hu made the remarks while meeting with Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), and Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, on two separate occasions Wednesday morning in Beijing. The two chief executives are in Beijing reporting on their work to the central government.

During his meeting with Tung Chee Hwa, the president praised the Hong Kong SAR government under Tung for all the work it has done to improve their administration, and people's livelihood, safeguard social stability, and promote economic development.

With the support of the central government, the Hong Kong SAR government is cooperating with concerned departments on the mainland to implement the Chinese mainland/Hong Kong closer economic partnership arrangement (CEPA), actively expanding cooperation between Hong Kong and Guangdong province, south China, and between Hong Kong and Shanghai, east China, noted the president.

The economy of Hong Kong has shown the momentum of recovery with increased confidence of local residents, Hu acknowledged.

The president went on to say that he hoped the Hong Kong SAR government would continue its efforts to improve communications with all walks of life in Hong Kong, and be close to the general public, experience and observe the public feelings, and draw on the wisdom of the masses to constantly improve their services for Hong Kong residents.

Hu also underlined the vital significance of the role of Hong Kong compatriots in bringing about economic revitalization and development in the region.

He called on personages from all walks of life in Hong Kong to treasure the current favorable situation, seize opportunities, and concentrate their efforts through uniting as one in their efforts to overcome difficulty and constantly enhance the vitality and international competitiveness of the Hong Kong economy, and strive for the realization of economic revitalization and stable development at an early date.

Having heard the report by Tung on the comments by Hong Kong community on the issue of political system examination, the president said the central government is very much concerned with the development of Hong Kong's political system with a clear-cut position of principle.

The central government holds the view that the political system of HKSAR must proceed from the specific conditions in the region, and progress in order and step by step and in line with the Basic Law of HKSAR, said the president.

He said he believed that the Hong Kong community will be able to reach a broad-based consensus on the issue.

During his meeting with Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of Macao SAR government, the president praised the government for the good situation in Macao, saying that Macao enjoys social stability, and local residents live and work in peace and contentment while the economy continues to grow.

Since China resumed its sovereignty over Macao, Hu said, the Macao SAR government under Edmund Ho Hau Wah has been taking initiatives and been pragmatic in making progress in improving the situation of law and order, pressing ahead with government administrative reform, defining economic development strategies and policies that conform to the concrete conditions of Macao, and deepening economic cooperation with the mainland while expanding international exchanges.

Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan were those present at the two meetings.

(Xinhua News Agency December 3, 2003)