Chinese Premier promises support to Hong Kong, Macau amid global financial crisis
19/12/2008 16:44
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced today the mainland's plan to help
Hong Kong and Macau tackle economic challenges amid the global financial
crisis.
"The motherland will always provide a reliable backing for Hong
Kong", Wen said during a meeting with Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR).
The move is reminiscent of China's
pledge to back Hong Kong, a leading world financial center, during the Asian
Financial Crisis in 1997.
According to Wen, the central government would help
Hong Kong overcome challenges brought by the world financial crisis by promoting
financial cooperation between the mainland and HKSAR.
The central government
would help Hong Kong upgrade infrastructure construction and grant favorable
policies for small and medium-sized HK enterprises, he said.
"The mainland
would also ensure stable food, water, electricity and natural gas supply for the
region and further open of its service industry market to HKSAR."
Measures
will also be taken to encourage more mainland tourists to visit Hong Kong, said
the Premier.
Wen said "the central government would firmly support the work
of HKSAR and with joint efforts, Hong Kong people could turn present
difficulties into opportunities... and achieve sustainable development."
In a
separate meeting with the Macau Special Administrative Region Chief Executive
Edmund Ho Hau-wah, Wen said the central government would take similar support
measures for the region.
"The central government will unswervingly support
Macau to overcome difficulties and maintain a stable economic development in the
region," the Premier said.
Both Donald Tsang and Edmund Ho Hau-wah were in
Beijing for a briefing on regional work to the central government.
Hong Kong
and Macau, previously colonies separately owned by the British and Portuguese,
respectively returned to China in 1997 and 1999.
The two regions enjoy a high
degree of autonomy, maintaining a capitalist economy under the policy of "one
country, two systems".
Xinhua
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