If the economy continues to thrive, Hong Kong GDP growth for 2005 will be 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent, the government economist Kwok Kwok-chuen said Saturday.

Kwok noted Hong Kong's economy has bounced back from the 1997 financial crisis, with strengthened domestic economic activities.

Despite a number of risks in the external environment, Kwok said, the economic outlook will be fine as Hong Kong is an outward-oriented economy and the government has been upholding the "big market, small government" principle.

However, he said Hong Kong's population is aging, and there is a need to attract overseas talent and professionals to work here. 

Editor: Yan