Chief Executive John Lee said he reported Hong Kong’s latest economic, social and political situation, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s fiscal position, when he met President Xi Jinping today.

Mr Lee told reporters in Beijing tonight that he outlined to President Xi the Hong Kong SAR Government's strategies ahead. 

“I have explained there will be a series of strategies that we will be adopting to ensure that we will eventually make a balanced budget. That may take a few years, but we do have our strategies, and I have explained those strategies to the central government.”

The Chief Executive added that he was grateful to President Xi for fully recognising the effort and contribution of himself and the Hong Kong SAR Government which he regarded as strong encouragement.

“I thank President Xi for recognising our efforts and also encouraging us to continue to govern in the direction which has been recognised, not just by society, as correct, but also internationally, as you can see in the rise in rankings in different areas, including Hong Kong's position as a financial centre (which) has risen one position and now is rated as the number three in the world.

“And our international competitiveness has gone up two rankings and now is ranked fifth in the world, so on and so forth. And President Xi's recognition, of course, gives strong encouragement to me and to my Government.”