Li Changchun met with a high-level delegation of the news sector from Hong Kong

　

Li Changchun, a standing committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with a high-level delegation of the news sector from Hong Kong yesterday.

 

Li said the media sector should support Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa in ruling the HKSAR according to the law and consider the territory's overall interest when performing its duties.

 

Li asked the journalists to shoulder their social responsibility while exercising freedom of the press, and to help ensure the HKSAR's prosperity and stability and to safeguard its overall interest. He said there had to be criticisms because the media also played a watchdog role, but criticisms must be constructive. He added media criticised because they wanted to be constructive.

 

Li said the central government has been very concerned about Hong Kong's situation since the July 1 march. He reiterated Beijing's stand of upholding the principles of "One Country, Two Systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong", "a high degree of autonomy" as well as the Basic Law.

 

Li added the Hong Kong press was free to criticise the Communist Party within the city under one country, two systems. But such a freedom would not apply to publishing ventures on the mainland.