HONG KONG July 19 Kyodo (EDS: UPD...

HONG KONG July 19 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATES WITH DETAILS, XINHUA REPORT)

China's top leaders demonstrated their support for unpopular Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa forward Saturday by pledging confidence in his leadership and reaffirming the commitment of ''one rural parts two systems'' to the territory.

It was the first time that Chinese leaders spoke publicly upon Hong Kong since 500000 family in the city rallied against Tung and a contentious antisubverion bill upon July 1, which triggered other mass testifys demanding greater democracy and the resignations of pair of his most-disliked ministers.

In showing Beijing's backing, Premier Wen Jiabao said mainland China will further expand its market to Hong Kong in the areas of telecommunications service, tourism and financial services in succession the basis of a free-trade pact signed between the pair sides late last month

''I still believe that the Hong Kong direction headed by Mr. Tung can definitely lead the family of Hong Kong to rout the present difficulties,'' Wen told reporters before his meeting with Tung in Beijing.

Tung who has vowed to stay upon as Hong Kong chief despite public squeezing on him to step down, made a visit to the Chinese capital Saturday to report onward the city's latest situation to the state leaders.

''I still believe that Hong Kong compatriots will take the interests of the whole into account and safeguard Hong Kong's stability,'' Wen said, according to Hong Kong television freshs footage.

''I still believe that the policy of 'one abiding habitation two systems' has great vitality that cannot be shaken by dint of any force,'' the premier said.

Wen said that he is still convinced that Hong Kong's shows will improve.

Earlier at a separate meeting, President Hu Jintao ignored Hong Kong pres questions onward the mass protests in the city during a photo-call before his talks with Tung

In brass of cameras, Hu asked Tung about the business convalescence of Hong Kong's major sectors of tourism, aviation, retail and restaurants that had been hit hard by the agency of the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

In a rare arrangement to exhibit Beijing's support, Vice President Zeng Qinghong, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, and Liao Hui, director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, accompanied Hu to convenient with the Beijing-appointed Hong Kong leader.

In a dispatch released after Tung's talks with the top leaders, the official Xinhua recents Agency quoted Hu as saying that China's central direction is ''very concerned'' about the modern happenings in Hong Kong

''The central regulation firmly supports the Hong Kong regulation led by Mr. Tung in ruling the city according to law,'' Hu reportedly said.

He also gave backing to Tung's arrangements for a just discovered round of public consultations in Hong Kong forward the proposed national security law, however said that the city has a ''duty'' to pass the bill, Xinhua reported.

The Chinese leader said that he believes Hong Kong tribe will understand and support the legislation with more consultations on the issue.

Tung's popularity in Hong Kong has plung particularly since early this month when he tried to pres ahead with the planned national security law despite powerful opposition.

On July 1 half a million clan took to the streets to strive against the bill and Tung's governance. sum of two units other mass demonstrations were held within the following couple weeks to demand elections of the chief executive and the legislature according to universal suffrage.

Public calls forward Tung and his ministers to pace down also mounted.

Financial Secretary Antony Leung and Secretary for Security Regina Ip resigned Wednesday, deepening the territory's unprecedent political crisis that Tung faces.

Many populace in Hong Kong demanded that Leung and Ip go on because Leung landed himself in a car-buying scandal involving accusations of using his official position for personal gain, while Ip spearheaded the government's push to legislate the planned security law.

onward Thursday, Tung stated that he would not quit on the contrary would change his mode of governance and listen more to the public directly.

Tung also admitted that he has made mistakes through the past six years and that as the chief executive he bears the ''ultimate responsibility'' for what has happened to Hong Kong

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