After winning re-election by a landslide, Donald Tsang was reappointed as chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) by Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday.

"Tsang's victory in the election shows the Hong Kong people's expectations and reflects their trust in him," Wen said.

Tsang, in a statement issued following the appointment, expressed his thanks to the central government for the "great honor" he had in having the opportunity to serve.

"I have a huge mission," Tsang said, adding that he would pragmatically lead the HKSAR government in bringing Hong Kong's development to new heights.

According to the Basic Law of the HKSAR, the chief executive is first elected by the broadly representative Election Committee before being appointed by the central government.

Tsang saw off Alan Leong, his only challenger, 649 to 123 in the election for chief executive on March 25. The Election Committee, the SAR's electoral college, comprises elected representatives from various sectors of society.

"The election, conforming to the principle of openness, fairness and justice, fully tallies with the Basic Law and other relevant laws," Wen said at a plenum of the State Council.

Addressing Tsang's first tenure as chief executive, Wen praised his performance as HKSAR chief executive since first being elected in June 2005. Tsang's first election victory was made possible after his predecessor, Tung Chee Hwa, resigned mid-way through his second term due to ill health.

Tsang will begin his new term on July 1, 2007, marking the third full term since Hong Kong returned to China in 1997.

"Tsang has led the local government and through this, it has enhanced its governance capability, developed its economy, improved the livelihood of the people, and properly handled problems of public concern," Wen said, adding that "the performance of (Tsang's) administration had been applauded by local people from all walks of life."

The central government places its hopes in Tsang and wishes to see him make greater contributions to Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, further strive to implement the Basic Law and abide to the principle of "one country, two systems", which allows Hong Kong people to administer the SAR with a high degree of self-determination, Wen noted.

"I shall not fail the trust the central government and the people of Hong Kong have placed in me," Tsang said in the statement.

He revealed that he would continue to listen to guidance and advice from Election Committee members and to reach out to all people to hear their needs and expectations, a policy he had already applied during the two-month election campaign.

"I'll keep these precious suggestions in mind and try to respond to them in my future work," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2007)