Chinese President Hu Jintao gives new Hong Kong leader positive report

Chinese President Hu Jintao gave Hong Kong's new leader Donald Tsang a positive report card Tuesday, saying he was satisfied with Tsang's performance. Tsang is in Beijing for his first duty visit to Chinese Communist leaders since taking the top job in July.

"Currently Hong Kong's economy is looking good overall ... Its society remains stable, and people's livelihoods have improved," said Hu, whose comments were broadcast on Hong Kong's Cable TV.

"Your hard work has won the trust and support of Hong Kong's people," the state leader told Tsang. "The central government is satisfied with you and your government's work. We will continue to lend full support to your governance according to law."

Tsang, who is to meet Premier Wen Jiabao Wednesday morning, is expected to brief state leaders on Hong Kong's latest developments, including how his administration intends to recover from an embarrassing setback last week when pro-democracy lawmakers defeated a political reform plan.

The lawmakers voted down the plans despite fierce lobbying from Tsang and his officials, saying they lacked a timetable for the territory's transition to full democracy.

Since returning to Chinese rule in 1997, Hong Kong has been run under a "one country, two systems" formula that gives the city considerable autonomy and allows its citizens to enjoy many civil liberties denied on the mainland, reports the AP. I.L.