CPPCC chairman starts visit in Hong Kong SAR

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), arrived in Hong KongTuesday morning for a visit to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) at the invitation of the HKSAR government.

During the three-day visit, Jia is scheduled to attend activities marking the third anniversary of the signing of the Chinese Mainland/Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

Jia was greeted by HKSAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang and other principal officials of the HKSAR government at the Hong Kong Lok Ma Chau cross-boundary check point.

Jia said upon his arrival that during his visit, he will meet with people from all walks of life in Hong Kong and explore ways with them to forge closer economic and trade ties between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macao, so as to promote economic prosperity in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao.

He said this is his first visit to the HKSAR since Hong Kong returned to the motherland in 1997.

In the past 12 years since his last tour to Hong Kong in 1994, Jia said, he has been paying close attention to Hong Kong's social and economic development as well as the welfare and happiness of the Hong Kong people.

"Hong Kong now enjoys a fairly good situation with smooth administration of the HKSAR government, harmony of people and prosperity of all sectors," he said.

He also asked about 80 correspondents covering the event to convey his greetings to the Hong Kong compatriots.

Jia was accompanied by Liao Hui, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; Zheng Wantong, secretary-general of the CPPCC National Committee; Gao Siren, head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong; Bo Xilai, minister of commerce and some other senior officials of the central government.

Source: Xinhua