HONG KONG - Chinese President Hu Jintao met on Saturday afternoon principal officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, members of the Executive Council, the president of the Legislative Council (Legco), and the chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Hu praised their hard work and contribution to Hong Kong's development in the past five years, and extended, on behalf of the central government, sincere greetings to them.

Hu stressed that Hong Kong should make full use of the existing advantages, in particular the backing of the mainland, to maintain and consolidate the status as an international financial, trading and shipping hub, and strengthen its role in boosting the overall development of the country as a whole.

Under the leadership of Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Hong Kong has managed to overcome the impact of the global financial crisis over the past five years, while preserving prosperity and stability, and all enterprises in Hong Kong have achieved remarkable progress with the strong support of the central government and the mainland, as well as the concerted efforts of the government and the general public of Hong Kong, Hu noted.

The president arrived here Friday to attend celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China and the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.