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BEIJING - Chinese leaders yesterday threw their weight solidly behind beleaguered Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, expressing their strongest support yet for his government.

Both President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao stressed their confidence in the ability of Mr Tung and his government to overcome Hong Kong's current problems during their separate meetings with him.

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Mr Wen told reporters four times 'I still believe', in a forceful endorsement of the head of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government.

'I still believe that the SAR government led by Mr Tung will be able to overcome current difficulties,' he said.

He also stressed his belief that the vast majority of Hong Kongers would be able to preserve Hong Kong's stability; that the 'one country, two systems' concept remained strong; and that Hong Kong's future would be even better.

The Chinese government yesterday also broke with past practice when Mr Hu and Vice-Presi...