Prospering hand in hand

With close links to the mainland, Hong Kong has consolidated its status and increased its international competitiveness

The successful Shenzhou IX space mission and the safe return of its crew, which marked a milestone in the development of China's aerospace technologies, added a festive atmosphere to Hong Kong's celebrations to mark the 15th anniversary of its return to China.

On Sunday, local people from various social circles staged hundreds of activities throughout the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to celebrate the occasion. President Hu Jintao's visit to Hong Kong on Friday and his attendance at the inauguration of Leung Chun-ying as the new chief executive of the special administrative region on Sunday, demonstrated the importance the central government attaches to Hong Kong.