President Hu Jintao, who arrived in Hong Kong earlier today (June 29), started his visit programme this afternoon after a short meeting with the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang.

     Accompanied by Mr Tsang, the first stop on President Hu’s visit programme was the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

     He was met by the President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Mr Timothy Fok and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, Mr Eric Li.

     President Hu spoke to elite athletes who were training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and also to 2006 Asian Games medallists. He watched demonstrations of wheel-chair fencing and table tennis, and then played table tennis with 13-year-old athlete Chiu Chung-hei.

     Before leaving, President Hu gave individual athletes souvenirs of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

     President Hu’s next stop was Wu Kai Sha Youth Village where an experience sharing session was being held for some 100 youngsters who had taken part in an exchange programme in Beijing in April.

     President Hu was invited to look at exhibition panels containing pictures taken by the youngsters during their Beijing trip.

     The President then wrote down his wishes for the future on a card which he then hung on a wishing tree. He told the young people that the future belonged to them and encouraged them to equip themselves for the future. He said: “If you don’t do your best now, you will regret it later in life.”

     Next on President Hu's afternoon programme was a visit to a four-member family in Kam Fung Court, Ma On Shan. Having a 10-year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter, flat occupant Mr Chiu Shek-on is doing trade business while his wife is a Putonghua teacher. Later, the President visited another four-member family in Chung On Estate, where the flat occupants, Mr Leung Chi-sing and his wife, are school workers.

     This evening, President Hu will attend a dinner hosted by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at Government House.
     

Ends/Friday, June 29, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:46

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