Tung, Liberals agree stability, unity are vital ( 2003-07-30 09:32) (China Daily HK Edition)
Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said Tuesday that he saw eye to eye
with the Liberals that if Hong Kong was to enjoy healthy development across the
board, "we must make every effort to maintain stability and stay united".
He made the remark after meeting with four legislators from the Liberal Party
for more than an hour Tuesday, the second day of his meet-the-community
programme.
On Monday Tung spent almost the same amount of time meeting the 17
"pro-democracy" legislators.
After the meeting Tuesday, Tung said they had a good discussion on various
issues ranging from the Article 23 legislation, economic recovery, the property
market to the unemployment situation.
Tung noted that economic recovery is a matter of community concern.
"In the short term, the recent increase in visitor arrivals from the mainland
and activities on the logistics front should help us on the unemployment
situation," he said.
In the longer term, the closer economic partnership arrangement between Hong
Kong and the mainland and much closer collaboration with the Pearl River Delta
will give Hong Kong new opportunities for economic restructuring, he said.
"We must also ensure Hong Kong and the mainland develop a good interactive
relationship within the 'One Country, Two systems' framework," Tung said.
On Basic Law Article 23, the chief executive reiterated that the next round
of consultation will be very comprehensive to win maximum support and
understanding from the community at large. There is no timetable for the
legislative process.
Liberal Party chief James Tien told the press after the meeting that this was
the second time he met with Tung since his resignation as an executive
councillor early this month.
At Tung's request, they talked face to face for almost an hour last
Wednesday.
"In fact, the atmosphere of the meetings between Tung and I, including the
meeting last Wednesday, has always been very good," he said.
On the property market, Tien said he was concerned about falling prices.
Appropriate measures, including the discontinuation of land applications from
the reserve list by developers, are necessary moves to stop the falling
trend.