President Hu Jintao said the central government would always support Hong Kong and Macao SARs in coping with and overcoming various difficulties, when meeting Donald Tsang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Saturday on the sideline of the 16th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Hu said the central government would take effective measures to help the HKSAR government ward off the impact of the global financial crisis, safeguard the stability of financial markets and boost economic growth.

He expressed his belief that as long as the HKSAR government and people from all circles could be united, the region would maintain its long-term prosperity and stability.

Tsang briefed Hu on the HKSAR government's efforts in dealing with the current financial crisis and voiced his appreciation for the central government's support to Hong Kong.

The HKSAR government would continue to make efforts to safeguard the financial and economic stability in the region, the Hong Kong chief said.

Hu said China had experienced many major events and difficulties this year, in which Hong Kong compatriots stood together with the people on the mainland.

He spoke highly of the disaster-relief efforts provided by the Hong Kong SAR government and people after the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan Province, saying they had helped with the success of China's quake-relief work.

The president said Hong Kong had also successfully completed the task of co-organizing the equestrian competition event of the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2008)