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HK Chief Executive Extends New Year Greetings
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Tung Chee Hwa, when extending the New Year's greetings on Monday, called on the community to redouble the efforts to develop Hong Kong as a peaceful, prosperous, caring and civilized society.
"With the active participation of the community and under the principle of One Country, Two Systems, we will be able to make a greater contribution to Hong Kong, to the country, and to the nation," Tung said.
The human race entered the 21st century, an era filled with hope and challenges, and the new century has dawned on the world and shed light on Hong Kong's prospects, Tung told Xinhua.
"In the past three years, with the joint efforts of the people of Hong Kong and the full support of the Central Government, we have successfully implemented the policy of One country, Two Systems in Hong Kong," he said, adding that this is an achievement widely recognized by the international community.
After going through a period of difficulty, the Hong Kong economy has started to recover and growth has resumed, Tung said. "We are forecasting economic growth of 10 percent for 2000, and growth will be sustained at a more moderate pace in 2001," he stressed.
The chief executive noted Hong Kong is well known for being free, vibrant, competitive and innovative, and the qualities justify a positive outlook for the future.
Tung said that in the 21st century, the economic strength of a country or region and their value-adding capability will depend on the extent to which they can grasp information technology.
"The maintenance of our competitiveness will depend on our knowledge-base and human resource development," he emphasized. "Our aim is to nurture talents through education, to cope with competition in the 21st century by developing a knowledge-based society and to gather further economic momentum."
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