Jun 30, 2007
Reuters

HONG KONG, June 30 (Reuters) - Chinese President Hu Jintao has urged Hong Kong's leaders to heed the public more during a visit to mark the former British colony's 10th anniversary under Chinese rule.

"I hope everybody can faithfully fulfil a principle of governance that places the people first," Hu told guests at a dinner hosted by Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang on Friday. v "Get close to the people's hearts, understand public opinion, and strive to provide a high-quality service to the people," he added.

Hu did not mention how the city might reconcile growing calls by the public and the pro-democracy camp for direct elections.

The city's Basic Law says universal suffrage is the ultimate goal, but is vague on a timetable, giving Beijing scope to dictate the pace of progress. Beijing's parliament in 2004 ruled out direct elections in Hong Kong until at least 2012.

"While public fears that there would be a significant deterioration in human rights in Hong Kong after 1997 have not been borne out, the (Hong Kong) authorities have missed several key opportunities to take concrete steps to enhance protection of the basic human rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong over the last 10 years," Amnesty International said in a report released this week.

Since arriving on Friday, the normally buttoned-down leader has engaged in a charm offensive to win over Hong Kong's citizens, many of whom have been calling for direct elections in the city in 2012.

Hu dispensed with suit and tie on Saturday, meeting families in their homes and presenting them with gifts. He even played an impromptu game of table tennis with a 13-year-old boy.

Earlier, he inspected the People's Liberation Army Garrison at Stonecutter's island. Wearing a green Mao suit, he walked before ranks of armed troops massed before naval ships, helicopters and armoured vehicles.

He also met with former Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa, who was strongly criticised for his weak governance.

Hu is likely to be followed by protests of pro-democracy activists and members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which is banned on the mainland and branded an "evil cult" but remains legal in Hong Kong.

Pro-democracy legislators and other activists plan a protest march on Sunday. A Hong Kong pollster predicted that up to 60,000 people could turn out, the South China Morning Post reported.

(Additional reporting by John Ruwitch)

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