The head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Saturday "fully affirmed and highly appraised" the work of former chief executive Tung Chee Hwa and called for the Hong Kong communities to work together to safeguard prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.

A State Council full-member meeting held Saturday afternoon, chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, discussed and approved Tung's request to resign from the post of HKSAR chief executive. Tung waselected vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, at the just-concluded CPPCC annual session.

"He has made historic contributions to maintaining stability and prosperity in Hong Kong and the cause of 'one country, two systems'," said the liaison office head.

Tung was elected by the Hong Kong people and approved by the State Council to be the first and second HKSAR chief executive in December 1996 and March 2002, respectively.

"He has done a great deal of pioneering work in successfully practicing the principle of 'one country, two systems,' 'Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong' and a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong," said the official, citing his leading role in leading the HKSAR government in carrying out the Basic Law in an all-round way,and administering according to law, overcoming many difficulties by the Asian financial crisis, changes in the external economic situation and SARS, and coping properly with many complex political, economic and social issues, which helped maintain social stability in Hong Kong and promote the early revival of local economy.

Tung has exerted his utmost for the maximum interests of the Hong Kong residents and dedicated himself to the overall interestsof Hong Kong and national interests as well, he said.

"The State Council full-member meeting this afternoon discussedand approved Tung's request to resign from the post of HKSAR chiefexecutive, and Premier Wen Jiabao fully affirmed and highly appraised Mr. Tung Chee Hwa's work on behalf of the Central Government," he said.

The official expressed his conviction that in the absence of a chief executive in the HKSAR, Hong Kong people from all spheres, social strata and walks of life would more than ever bear the overall situation in mind and make joint efforts to safeguard the hard-won economic revival and social stability in Hong Kong, whiledoing well all the work relevant to the election of a new chief executive under the leadership of the HKSAR government.

The Central Government would strictly adhere to the Basic Law in handling affairs related the subrogation of the chief executive,he said. The Central Government would give an all-out support to Acting Chief Executive Donald Tsang and the HKSAR government in their work to safeguard stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.

Earlier, the office had sent a congratulatory message to Tung on his election as vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

The election shows the "full affirmation" of the motherland andthe people for his "pioneering work and historic contributions" inthe successful practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong,and another great trust to him by the state and nation.

It also showed the central authorities attach great importance to the high degree of democracy in Hong Kong, the letter says.