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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, has today (November 8, Brussels time) updated Belgian political leaders on Hong Kong's development and the implementation of 'One Country, Two Systems' since 1997.
Mr Tsang was also delighted to learn during the day that Hong Kong's former Director of Health, Dr Margaret Chan, had been nominated for the post of Director-General of the World Health Organisation.
He said it was a great honour for China and Hong Kong that Dr Chan would head the global health body.
"I am sure it's a feeling shared by the seven million people in Hong Kong," he said. "We are excited and happy and very proud."
News of the appointment came just after a meeting with Belgium's President of the Senate, Mrs Anne-Marie Lizin, who was quick to offer her congratulations.
In a full day of political calls, Mr Tsang met with the Belgian Prime Minister, Mr Guy Verhofstadt, Belgian Finance Minister, Mr Didier Reynders, the Speaker of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, Mr Herman De Croo and the President of the Belgian Senate, Mrs Lizin.
Mr Tsang witnessed the signing of an agreement between Hong Kong and Belgium on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This takes to nine the number of co-operation agreements signed between Hong Kong and Belgium.
During meetings with Mr Verhofstadt and Mr Reynders, the Chief Executive discussed ways to boost trade and investment flows between Hong Kong and Belgium.
Mr Reynders suggested that a Belgian trade and business delegation go to Hong Kong, while Mr Verhofstadt suggested that Hong Kong send a similar delegation to Belgium. Both suggestions were welcomed by the Chief Executive.
Mr Tsang also met with European Community political leaders, including the President of the European Parliament, Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles, the European Parliament's Chairman of the Delegation for Relations with the People's Republic of China, Mr Dirk Streckx, and the Minister-President of the Government of the French-Speaking Community, Mrs Maria Arena.
During his meetings, Mr Tsang stressed that Hong Kong had retained its fundamental strengths and freedoms under the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle.
He said it was important for Hong Kong and for China to make the unique experiment work, and to explain to the world how it was working in practice.
He said that Hong Kong was facing very good short to medium-term prospects with solid GDP growth, declining unemployment, strong investment flows and good stock market performance.
On political development, Mr Tsang said Hong Kong needed to devise a durable system that suited its own circumstances rather than graft a political system from elsewhere.
He said one of his top priorities would be to devise arrangements on political development that would be acceptable to the people of Hong Kong, the LegCo and to the sovereign government.
Tomorrow, Mr Tsang leaves for Paris where he will meet President Jacques Chirac, Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Philippe Douste-Blazy, deliver a keynote speech at a business luncheon, and open the Hong Kong France Business Partnership Plenary meeting.
Ends/Thursday, November 9, 2006
Issued at HKT 00:38
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