Closer ties: Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa meets media chiefs.

Communication channels between the Government and the public will be enhanced and institutionalised, Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa says.

Meeting media chiefs today, Mr Tung said the Government is studying possible ways to attract more people to join its advisory bodies.

Admitting the Government had made some mistakes in the past, Mr Tung pledged to change his leadership style and not push unpopular policies.

He said some policies introduced by the Government had created a short-term burden to the public, particularly the middle-class.

Noting that the procession on July 1 was a great challenge to the Government, he said the incident showed public grievances about his leadership, the shortcomings of Government policies and the lack of communication between it and the public. It also showed the public concern over Basic Law Article 23.

On economic development, Mr Tung said unemployment is the Government's top priority. Revitalising tourism is essential to resolving the problem, and the prospects of tourism will be further improved as more Guangdong, Beijing and Shanghai residents are allowed to visit Hong Kong as individual travellers.

On property prices, Mr Tung said the Government will soon do something to stabilise the market in the hope prices rise again.

In long-term, the Government will focus on enhancing Hong Kong's relations with the Pearl River Delta and the full implementation of CEPA.

Noting that Hong Kong's economic performance this month was better than expected, Mr Tung said further strengthening Hong Kong's financial sector, logistics, tourism and commerce is the key to success.

Strong economic development in the Mainland will create a lot of opportunities for Hong Kong, and enhanced co-operation with the Mainland will help revitalise our economy.

On Chief Secretary Donald Tsang's trip to Beijing, Mr Tung said the delegates will discuss with Mainland authorities co-operation in some large-scale infrastructure projects.

Mr Tung hopes more initiatives can materialise at the sixth Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference to be held here on August 5.