Related:  HK chief executive offers to resign
           Tung Chee Hwa's resignation report to State Council
           Tung feels honored for being elected vice chairman of CPPCC 

Tung Chee-hwa waves after attending a news conference in which he announced his resignation in this picture taken on March 10, 2005. (Photo: China Daily)

    BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhuanet) -- A plenary meeting of China's State Council presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao here Saturday approved Tung Chee Hwa's resignation as chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

    On the plenary meeting, the participants discussed Tung's resignation report and listened to a report on the related issues made by Liao Hui, director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.

    Premier Wen made a keynote speech at the plenary meeting and spoke highly of Tung's contribution to the development of HKSAR.

    He noted that Tung Chee Hwa has done a great deal of work with creativeness in implementation of the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and high-degree of autonomy.

    Tung, 67, announced in Hong Kong on Thursday that he had officially submitted to the Chinese central government his request for resignation from the post as chief executive of the HKSAR for health reasons.

    Premier Wen said Tung led HKSAR government to fully implement the Basic Law, administrated the government in accordance with law,united all the Hong Kong people, and conquered various difficulties and challenges caused by Asian financial crisis and changes in world economic environment.

    Tung properly handled a series of key political, economic and social problems, and maintained the stable and prosperous situation of Hong Kong, said Wen.

    Since Tung took his office as chief executive of HKSAR, he has performed his duties faithfully, always being clean and honest, enduring all hardship, and taking pleasure in his dedication and sacrifice to his work.

    "The central government has full acknowledgment to the work done by Tung Chee Hwa and the HKSAR government," said Wen.

    On deliberation, Tung Chee Hwa decided to resign from his post as the HKSAR chief executive, and submitted the resignation report to the State Council on March 10. What he did has embodied his highly responsibility attitude toward Hong Kong and the nation, he said.

    Wen Jiabao said that through serious deliberation and discussion, the State Council approved Tung Chee Hwa's resignation as the chief executive of the HKSAR. In line with Article 45 and Annex I of the Basic Law of HKSAR of the People's Republic of China, the Chief Executive shall be elected within six months and then appointed by the Central People's Government.

    Wen said the central government will unswervingly implement the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and high degree of autonomy, strictly adhere to the Basic Law and give full support to the HKSAR Chief Executive and the government to administrate by law and to boost Hong Kong's stability, prosperity and development.

    Those who were present at the plenary meeting of the State Council included Vice- Premier Huang Ju, Wu Yi, Zeng Peiyan and Hui Liangyu; State Councilor Zhou Yongkang, Cao Gangchuan, Tang Jiaxuan, Hua Jianmin and Chen Zhili and other members to the plenum.

    Tung Chee Hwa was elected vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on the third session of the 10th CPPCC National Committee on March 12. Enditem

Premier Wen signs decree to approve Tung Chee Hwa's resignation

    BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao signed Decree No. 433 of the State Council on Saturday to approve Tung Chee Hwa's resignation as chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

    Tung will leave his post as HKSAR chief executive on March 12, 2005, the decree says.

    Premier Wen signed the decree after the State Council's plenum approved Tung's resignation in line with the related articles of the Basic Law of HKSAR.

    Tung, 67, announced in Hong Kong on Thursday that he had officially submitted to the Chinese central government his request for resignation from the post as chief executive of the HKSAR for health reasons. Enditem