Useful exchange: Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa meets with a group of professionals and intellectuals to hear their views.

The Government remains steadfast in upholding Hong Kong's core values, and will continue exchanges with all sectors of the community to promote harmony and stability in society.

This was the message from Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, who met with a group of professionals and intellectuals today.

The group recently initiated a declaration to safeguard the city's core values.

Speaking to the media afterwards, Mr Tung said he arranged the meeting immediately after seeing the declaration, to demonstrate the Government's commitment to preserving core values.

Hong Kong people treasure these values, and the Government is determined to work with the public to ensure they will not be undermined, he added.