Tung Chee-hwa and his administration were told by a visiting top Chinese official yesterday they were expected to run Hong Kong much better than former colonial governors did.
The key to success was to implement fully the principle of 'one country two systems' and to rule Hong Kong in accordance with the law, Li Ruihuan, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said.
Mr Li arrived at Chek Lap Kok airport yesterday. He had a meeting with the Chief Executive, senior officials and executive councillors, president of the Legislative Council Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai and Chief Justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang at Government House.
In a speech to top government officials, he stressed that all of them carried the responsibility of preserving Hong Kong's prosperity and protecting its people.
He said the world was still looking at whether they could rule Hong Kong successfully, and that all Chinese wished they could govern the territory much better than the British.
Mr Li said the Government had successfully overcome the challenge of the Asian economic crisis and tackled the dilemmas from various sides, adding: 'The success has won international recognition.'