President Hu Jintao has encouraged Hong Kong youngsters to equip themselves for the future and wished Hong Kong athletes success in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Mr Hu started his visit programme this afternoon after a short meeting with Chief Executive Donald Tsang. He first visited the Hong Kong Sports Institute where he spoke to elite athletes training for the Beijing Olympics, and also to 2006 Asian Games medallists. He watched wheelchair fencing and table tennis demonstrations, and then played ping-pong with 13-year-old athlete Chiu Chung-hei.

Packed itinerary: President Hu Jintao plays table tennis with 13-year-old Chiu Chung-hei, meets 100 youngsters at a sharing session, and visits a Chung On Estate family.

Youth session

Mr Hu then went to Wu Kai Sha Youth Village where an experience sharing session was held for 100 youngsters who had taken part in an exchange programme in Beijing in April. He inspected exhibition panels containing pictures taken by the youngsters during their Beijing trip. He then wrote down his wishes for the future on a card which he then hung on a wishing tree.

He told the youths that the future belongs to them and encouraged them to equip themselves for it, saying "if you do not do your best now, you will regret it later in life".

Mr Hu next visited two four-member families in Kam Fung Court and Chung On Estate, Ma On Shan.

Tonight he will attend a dinner hosted by the Chief Executive at Government House.