It's an unforgettable day for 10-year-old Hong Kong boy Chiu Lam
Ho, who is at the same age of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR), as he played the piano for Chinese President Hu Jintao who visited his family in Ma On Shan
on Friday.
"Grandpa Hu said I played very well," the boy, who has won a
bronze medal in a piano competition in Hong Kong, said with
excitement.
His father, 43-year-old Chiu Shek-on, who works for a trade
company, said "President Hu greeted each member of my family and
chatted with us. He is very easy to approach. We are very honored
and very happy to have President Hu as our guest."
Chiu told the president that he bought the second-hand apartment
in Kam Fung Court, Ma On Shan, three years ago on mortgage. Now he
pays some 7,000 HK dollars (about US$897) to bank every month.
Chiu's wife Lam Lai Hung said her hometown is in Shantou in
south China's Guangdong Province. She married Chiu and moved
to Hong Kong ten years ago.
"I've witnessed the economic development and improvement of
people's life over the past decade," said Lam, who teaches Mandarin
Chinese, or Putonghua, in a kindergarten and several schools in
Hong Kong.
"Our life is becoming better and better. As the relations
between Hong Kong and the mainland are getting closer, my job is
becoming more and more important," said Lam.
After visiting Chiu's family, President Hu called on another
four-member family in Chung On Estate, Ma On Shan, where the flat
occupants, Leung Chi-sing and his wife, are school workers.
Chatting with the family, President Hu asked about their work,
life and difficulties. Seeing the family living in a small flat, Hu
encouraged them to make efforts to improve their life.
Leung's daughter told the president that she has just graduated
from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and that she majored in
costume design.
"I want to develop my career both in Hong Kong and the
mainland," said the girl.
Hu said he hoped to see the new clothes designed by Leung in the
future.
When the girl said "I wish to let you wear the clothes designed
by me," the president laughed and nodded.
Hu arrived in Hong Kong earlier on Friday to attend the
celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to
China and the swearing-in ceremony of the third-term government of
the HKSAR.
(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2007)