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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the Reception of the 6th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region today (July 1):
Premier Wen Jiabao, State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan, CPPCC Vice Chairmen Liao Hui and Henry Fok, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Premier Wen has travelled all the way from Beijing to Hong Kong to attend the signing of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and this Anniversary Reception hosted by the HKSAR Government. We know how tight the Premier's schedule is, and the people of Hong Kong fully appreciate the care and support shown by our new Central Government leadership. Let us give a warm round of applause to President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen and the Central Government to express our heartfelt gratitude.
More than three months ago, SARS broke out in Hong Kong. We had to devote all our energies and to deploy all the necessary resources in the fight against the disease. In the end, we overcame the virus and the battle is now behind us. Painful as the experience was, it is imperative that the SAR Government adopt a pragmatic approach and seek the support of experts to help us learn from our experience, and act accordingly. We must improve Hong Kong's disease prevention system as soon as possible, in order to prevent a recurrence. And should Hong Kong be hit with another epidemic, we would proactively, comprehensively and effectively deal with it.
Implementing "One Country, Two Systems" and sustaining the social and economic growth of Hong Kong is a solemn pledge of this Administration to the people of Hong Kong. After SARS, we are more determined than ever in our conviction: rapid economic recovery and early realisation of economic restructuring is a shared mission of the SAR Government and Hong Kong's 6.8 million citizens.
Based on global economic trends and our experience over the past six years, Hong Kong's positioning, direction and goal in economic restructuring are clear: a highly developed knowledge-based society with the Mainland as its hinterland and a global outlook. We are now taking all necessary steps to reinforce and upgrade our position as a leading international financial and logistics centre, a preferred tourist destination and a trade-related services hub in the region. This is our medium-to-long term goal. To achieve it we must further enhance local value-added services; develop innovation, brands and high-tech manufacturing industries to best shape the future of our territory of some 1,100 square kilometres. The CEPA signed the day before yesterday offers us a solid platform from which to launch ourselves in this direction. We will vigorously foster closer economic ties with the Mainland, in particular the Pearl River Delta region, and strengthen our already excellent global business network.
Through implementation of such a development strategy, Hong Kong will continue to be the best gateway and intermediary between the Mainland and the rest of the world. And through the implementation of this strategy, Hong Kong can contribute to and benefit from our motherland's objective of building a well-off society in an all-round way. As the Mainland advances socially and economically, Hong Kong will remain the most prosperous metropolis in China, with the people enjoying a high degree of autonomy, democracy and freedom under "One Country, Two Systems".
Our economic restructuring has been made even more painful by SARS. The Government has adopted a series of policies and measures to ease unemployment on the one hand and to leverage on the community's wisdom and energies to revive tourism on the other. The latter in turn will boost the retail, restaurant, hotel, passenger travel and other related sectors. We will do all we can to bring our economic growth back on track as soon as possible. These are in line with the medium-to-long term positioning, direction and goal.
On this day six years ago, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government assumed its duties. Six million and eight hundred thousand Hong Kong people weathered first the unprecedented Asian financial turmoil, and then the SARS outbreak, a virus that still baffles scientists. Time and again we displayed amazing resilience. We have lived up to the mission of "Hong Kong people running Hong Kong". I am confident that with the same spirit demonstrated by Hong Kong people and the Government, and backed by the full support of the motherland, we will make it!
Let us now use our warm applause to invite Premier Wen to speak to us.
End/Tuesday, July 1, 2003
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