The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, arrived in Beijing today for his first duty visit since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region.

Mr Tung will report developments in Hong Kong to President Jiang Zemin at Zhongnamhai on Thursday morning and to Premier Li Peng tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. He will also meet Vice Premier Zhu Rongji tomorrow morning.

In his meeting with President Jiang and Premier Li, Mr Tung will report on the situation and developments in the economy, finance, and the social and livelihood issue in the Special Administration Region.

This afternoon, the Chief Executive had a meeting with Vice Premier Qian Qichen at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. After the meeting Mr and Mrs Tung attended a dinner hosted by Mr Qian at the State Guesthouse.

During the meeting, Mr Qian was affirmative about the work of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region Government. He pointed out that the Special Administration Region Government had handled internal and external affairs in accordance with the stipulations of the Basic Law and in an orderly manner. This had strengthen the confidence of both Hong Kong people and the international community in the future of Hong Kong.

On his arrival in Beijing early in this afternoon, the Chief Executive was greeted at the hotel by the Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Mr Liao Hui. Mr Tung and Mr Liao took the opportunity to review and discuss ways to strengthen the liaison between the Special Administration Region and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, which both agreed has been developing satisfactorily.

Mr Tung will return to Hong Kong on Thursday afternoon.