Tung pledges govt's responsibility to listen to different views

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa said Thursday night that to those who participated in a rally in the afternoon and to all fellow citizens of Hong Kong, "I clearly hear your views. I understand your aspirations."

He made the remarks in response to the rally, saying it is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government's responsibility to listen to different views.

Hong Kong police estimated that about 200,000 people took to the street to attend the rally.

A total of 102 public bus and minibus routes suspended operation for hours because of the rally.

Tung said, "In the difficult year just passed, we are grateful for the advice, the criticism, the support and the encouragement that you have given us."

Tung added that "it is because of these forthright views and advice you have given to us, and it is because of the response we have made to those views, we are able to witness strong recovery of economy, improvement in governance and a much more optimistic sentiment that prevails in community."

However, he admitted that this is just the beginning. A great deal of work has to be done. "I hear your concern on our governance. Although there has been improvement, I recognize there is still room for further improvement and we will keep at it," he said.

He said he also heard Hong Kong people's aspirations on democracy, adding his government will advance constitutional development with the ultimate aim of universal suffrage in

accordance with the principle of a gradual and orderly progress, the provisions of the Basic Law as well as the interpretation and the decision of the National People Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

He urged various sectors of the Hong Kong community to actively participate in the consultation exercise conducted by the Constitutional Development Task Force chaired by Chief Secretary Donald Tsang.

Tung said, "Although the economy is rebounding strongly, I recognized that not all has been able to share the benefit of this recovery. We need to make sure that our economic recovery is sustained so that people's livelihood can be improved."

He stressed that "we must make concerted effort to maintain a good relationship with the Central Authorities."

"These are enormous responsibilities, the road ahead will be long and hard. But with the concerted effort of every member of our community, I know we will succeed. Let us work together to build a prosperous, stable, free, democratic, harmonious and united Hong Kong." The Hong Kong SAR government and local people celebrated the 7th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Thursday.

In the morning, over 3,000 people attended the national flag and the regional flag raising ceremony to celebrate the festival and more than 1,000 participated in a reception marking the anniversary given by the HKSAR government.