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Following is the transcript (English portion) of a media session given by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, today (February 21) after meeting with Premier Zhu Rongji in Beijing:
Reporter: Did Mr Zhu offer any suggestions to resolve Hong Kong's economic problems during your talk with him?
Mr Tsang: The Premier was quite confident that we are able to overcome our present problems which he believes to be short term because we have excellent foundation, we have a very good heritage, and we have a lot of strengths. He believes what is important is Hong Kong should continue to nurture our strengths - our strengths of rule of law, our strengths of being very free, very equal, and a very efficient market.
Reporter: What other important topics did you talk with Mr Zhu?
Mr Tsang: We talked about Hong Kong's economy, Hong Kong's social issues, and about our coordination and cooperation in the development of the Pearl River Delta. Those were our main topics.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
End/Thursday, February 21, 2002
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