Some 250 Taiwan compatriots gathered in a New Year get-together in Hong Kong Thursday to greetthe upcoming Year of the Dragon of the lunar calendar.

Delivering a speech, Zou Zhekai, deputy director of the Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong Branch, said the development of the cross-Straits relations is an issue of common concern and closely related to the interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits at the start of the century.

After the return of Hong Kong and Macao, to settle the Taiwan question and realize the reunification of the motherland has become a more prominent task for the Chinese people, Zou said.

He praised the people in various circles of Hong Kong and Taiwan compatriots living in the region for their effort in the past year to promote the cross-Straits relations and their patriotism.

Besides economic, cultural and personnel exchanges between HongKong and Taiwan, Hong Kong compatriots also offered help to the rescue work following the September 21 earthquake in Taiwan, he said, noting that this shows that blood is thicker than water.

Zou expressed the hope that the Hong Kong people from all walksof life and Taiwan compatriots in Hong Kong will unite and make joint efforts to promote the peaceful reunification of the motherland.

Attending the get-together were also Jiang Enzhu, director of the Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong Branch, and leading officials of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong. (Xinhua)