Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) awards the instrument of appointment as the third-term Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to Donald Tsang in Beijing, China on April 9, 2007.   (Xinhua Photo)

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) and Donald Tsang (4th L), the third-term Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have group photo taken after Wen Jiabao awarded the instrument of appointment to Donald Tsang in Beijing, China on April 9, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Monday officially appointed Donald Tsang as the third-term Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), confirming the result of an election in March.

Tsang received the formal book of appointment at a ceremony held at 9:00 Monday morning at Zhongnanhai, the compound of the Chinese leadership in downtown Beijing.

The premier congratulated Tsang on his electoral victory and appointment, and expressed his approval of Tsang's administrative program that focuses on improving people's living standard, pursuing social harmony and promoting democracy.

Premier Wen, representing China's central government, urged the newly appointed Chief Executive and the SAR government to work closely with all sectors of the Hong Kong society in build a better future for the island.

Wen said that the central government will continue to support the HKSAR government and its chief executive in governing Hong Kong according to law.

The central government will as always take any positive and effective policies and measures that will help boost exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong in various fields to realize common development, Wen said.

"The central government will actively push for any initiative that will help boost mutually-beneficial cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland or initiative that will benefit Hong Kong's development," said Wen.

In response, Tsang thanked the central government for his appointment and vowed to faithfully fulfill his duties in order to honor the trust on him by the central government and the Hong Kong people.

Vice-Premier Wu Yi, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, and Liao Hui, head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council attended the ceremony.

Tsang arrived in Beijing on Sunday to receive his appointment. During his three-day visit to the mainland, he will also meet President Hu Jintao and other state leaders.

Tsang served out the remaining two years as the second-term chief executive after his predecessor, Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's first chief executive resigned due to health reasons in June 2005.

Tsang won overwhelmingly and beat his only contender Alan Leong in the election of the third-term Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region held on March 25.

The central government endorsed Tsang's appointment on April 2.

Tsang will begin serving his new term on July 1, 2007, which will be the third full term since HK returned to China from British Colony in 1997. Tsang's term will end on June 30, 2012.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd L) awards the instrument of appointment as the third-term Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to Donald Tsang (1st L) in Beijing, China on April 9, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao shows the Decree No. 490 of the State Council at a plenum of the State Council in Beijing, China on April 2, 2007. Wen Jiabao reappointed Donald Tsang as chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday after he won the election for the post. Tsang will come to Beijing on April 8 to attend an inauguration ceremony and will begin serving his new term on July 1, 2007, which will be the third full term since Hong Kong became a special administrative region in 1997.
(File Photo)

Editor: Yan