A plenary meeting of China's State Council presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao here Saturday approved Tung Chee Hwa's resignation as chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

On the plenary meeting, the participants discussed Tung's resignation report and listened to a report on the related issues made by Liao Hui, director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.

Premier Wen made a keynote speech at the plenary meeting and spoke highly of Tung's contribution to the development of HKSAR.

He noted that Tung Chee Hwa has done a great deal of work with creativeness in implementation of the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and high-degree of autonomy.

Tung, 67, announced in Hong Kong on Thursday that he had officially submitted to the Chinese central government his request for resignation from the post as chief executive of the HKSAR for health reasons.

Premier Wen signs decree to approve Tung Chee Hwa's resignation

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao signed Decree No. 433 of the State Council on Saturday to approve Tung Chee Hwa's resignation as chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Tung will leave his post as HKSAR chief executive on March 12, 2005, the decree says.

Premier Wen signed the decree after the State Council's plenum approved Tung's resignation in line with the related articles of the Basic Law of HKSAR.

Tung, 67, announced in Hong Kong on Thursday that he had officially submitted to the Chinese central government his request for resignation from the post as chief executive of the HKSAR for health reasons.