Vice-President Xi Jinping Sunday urged the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), the host city of the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, to do all it can to ensure a "safe Olympics for all".
"Security is a crucial link in preparing for the coming Olympic equestrian events," Xi told the SAR's senior government officials at a meeting to appraise the readiness of the host city.
Xi arrived in Hong Kong Sunday morning for a three-day inspection tour of the city, the first in his capacity as vice-president.
Vice-President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang in Hong Kong July 6, 2008. [Xinhua] |
He told the SAR government to constantly assess the level of security and draw on experiences elsewhere while devising its own security plan.
Xi also urged the city to enhance co-ordination among various government departments, strengthen leadership in times of emergency and raise public awareness of the Games.
"Staging the Olympic Games is not only the dream of all Chinese people, but has also become our commitment to the whole world," he said.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang briefed Xi on the city's preparations for the equestrian events.
He said that the SAR government was working closely with the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee and overseas law enforcement teams to ensure the safety of the Games.
"The current risk level stands at medium," Tsang added.
Before the briefing, Xi, accompanied by Tsang and other senior government officials, went on an inspection tour of the city's equestrian venues at Beas River and in Shatin.
"After touring the competition venues and listening to the briefing, I believe that I have a comprehensive picture of the preparatory work that has been done so far," said the vice-president, who has been put in charge of the preparations for the Beijing Olympics.
He said he was very much impressed by the amount of effort that the city has made, including financial resources, manpower and leadership.
Xi cited the 24-hour air-conditioned stable and the racing laboratory - the first-ever on-site testing laboratory for Olympic equine samples - as two examples of the SAR government's dedication to providing first-class venues and facilities.
The vice-president also praised Hong Kong for embracing the concept of a "Green Olympics".
"The construction of the horse stable using recycled materials and the organic treatment of stable waste including horse manure are all examples of a green Olympics and a circular economy," Xi said.
The vice-president entered Hong Hong at the Lok Ma Chau border control point from Shenzhen and delivered a short speech to government officials and reporters.
"I am here to inspect the progress of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events and to experience for myself the changes that Hong Kong has undergone during the past 11 years since its return to the motherland," the vice-president said.
The three-day visit is the first since Xi assumed the office of vice-president in March this year.
In a meeting with members of the city's Olympic delegation and volunteer workers, Xi said that Hong Kong compatriots had made an extraordinary contribution to the development of sports in modern China.
"And I believe you will continue that tradition in the future," he said.
