President Hu swears in HKSAR´s third-term Chief and cabinet

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Source: CCTV.com | 07-02-2007 08:48

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Donald Tsang (L) takes his oath, administered by Chinese President Hu Jintao, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center on July 1, 2007. [Xinhua Photo]

Principal officials of the third-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government take their oaths with the presence of Chinese President Hu Jintao (1st R) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Hong Kong, south China, on July 1, 2007.[Xinhua Photo]

On Sunday, President Hu Jintao swore in Hong Kong's principal officials for their new term. The inauguration ceremony for the SAR's third-term Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, also marked the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China.

Hong Kong has held this ceremony every year on July the 1st at the Golden Bauhinia Square since its return to China in 1997.

Both the national flag of China and the regional flag of Hong Kong were raised again on Sunday.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang was there on the SAR's 10th anniversary.

President Hu Jintao swore him in as the third-term chief executive.

Donald Tsang said, "I, Donald Tsang Yam-Kuan, swear that in the office of Chief Executive in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, I will uphold the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region."

Principal officials of the SAR government and members of the Executive Council also took their oaths.

Tsang said in the coming 5 years, he and his cabinet aim to build a more open government, develop a more democratic system, promote a new mode of economic development, and create a better quality of life.

His words were supported by Hu Jintao, on his first visit to Hong Kong as President. President Hu gave his commitment to promote Hong Kong's economic development as well as the relationship between Hong Kong and the Mainland.

Once again, he emphasized the central government's guideline for the SAR.

Hu Jintao said, "Here I would like to repeat the central government's unchanged policies of One Country, Two Systems, Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong by themselves, and giving Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy. The central government will follow the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR, support the chief executive in exercising government power as mandated by law."

Both the SAR and central governments have learned much in the past decade. Hu Jintao summed up the experience in four points: fully implementing the "One Country, Two Systems," policy, strictly complying with the Basic Law, giving high priority to promoting economic development and improving the people's well-being, and upholding social harmony and stability in Hong Kong.

Hu Jintao is here to deliver the central government's continued support, and to see for himself the changes in the SAR. Being well-informed will help the Mainland and Hong Kong as they continue to explore how the two systems can best work together.