Jia Qinglin, visiting chairman of the National
Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
(CPPCC), said on Tuesday that the Chinese
central government will continue to support the consolidation of
Hong Kong's status as an international financial center.
Accompanied by Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang, Jia
Qinglin visited the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) Tuesday
morning.
Jia said the central government has been attaching great
importance to and supporting the financial development of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as well as strengthening
Hong Kong's position as an international financial center, adding
the central government has been taking a series of measures in this
regard.
Jia pledged that the central government will actively take
measures that would be favorable for the development of Hong Kong's
financial industry, the consolidation of Hong Kong's status as an
international financial center and the cooperation between the
financial circles of the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.
He said after years of efforts, Hong Kong's financial sector has
possessed many unique advantages that could not be replaced by
other places. Hong Kong could achieve better development and play a
more important role in the national development, so long as Hong
Kong cashes in on the opportunities and creates more advantages in
the backdrop of the mainland's rapid economic growth.
On Tuesday afternoon, Jia also visited the newly opened Hong
Kong Wetland Park and chatted with Hong Kong primary and middle
school students there.
He said the opening of the ecological park by the HKSAR
government has provided students with a place to have better
understanding of nature and environmental protection knowledge.
He expected Hong Kong students to learn more about Hong Kong,
about the great motherland's long history and splendid culture, in
a bid to become talents both useful to Hong Kong and the whole
nation.
During his visit to the apartment of middle school English
teacher Ng Yuenfan, Jia said Hong Kong's economic recovery has been
on a fast track and that economic achievements have already
benefited more and more Hong Kong residents.
He then called on Hong Kong residents to support the HKSAR
government to govern by law, help maintain the good situation that
has not come easily and jointly build a prosperous and harmonious
Hong Kong.
Jia arrived in Hong Kong Tuesday morning for a three-day visit.
He is scheduled to attend activities marking the third anniversary
of the signing of the Chinese mainland/Hong Kong Closer Economic
Partnership Arrangement.
(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2006)