Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa said Wednesday that his government is determined to continue improving its governance to gain the trust and support of the community.

He made the remarks while delivering the Policy Address for 2004.

He pledged that his government will take concrete action to promote people-based governance.

Tung said over the past year, the people of Hong Kong have experienced a severe trial. He and his government have learnt a painful lesson.

After much soul searching, "we have adopted various measures to get closer to the community and respond more vigorously to the aspirations of the people," he said.

He said with the community's concerted efforts, his government overcame the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) last year, which infected over 1,700 people and claimed 299 lives.

Tung said drawing on the lessons it learned, the government has improved the alert and response system to help prevent, identify and control future outbreaks.

He said after the difficulties of the past few years, Hong Kong 's economy is clearly beginning to recover. The hard work of the people and the economic development strategy plus various measures adopted by the government are gradually producing results.

In this circumstances, he said, what is most needed is to push ahead with work already planned in a pragmatic manner, to ensure that the good momentum built up in the recovery is sustained.

Tung said the theme of his address Wednesday is to work with everybody in the broad direction accepted by the community to continue with economic restructuring and revival, and get close to the people, to improve governance and to properly plan political arrangements for the future.

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