HONG KONG - Hong Kong has an irreplaceable role to play in the country's development and opening-up process, said Vice-Premier Li Keqiang after wrapping up his three-day visit to the city on Thursday, using three key words to sum up his impressions with Hong Kong - "potential, vigor and vitality".

Hong Kong under the rule of "One Country, Two Systems" has great vitality, he said, adding that the city is capable of dealing with challenges and maintaining prosperity and stability.

The Hong Kong people are hardworking, smart, dedicated and very professional, Li said.

"With potential, vigor and vitality, I am fully confident of Hong Kong's future development," he added.

It was Li's first visit to Hong Kong as vice-premier. On Wednesday, Li announced a series of new policies to support Hong Kong's development and enhance cross-border cooperation between the mainland and the city.

Three themes emerged from Li's busy three-day schedule, said Li Gang, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong. They were economy and the livelihood of the people, development and cooperation, as well as education and youth.

The vice-premier's visit on the one hand shows the central government's approval of the special administrative region's achievements since the handover and the recognition of Hong Kong's special role in the nation's development, while on the other hand the visit also shows the central government's support for the city and great concern for Hong Kong people, the deputy director said.

Li's visit was highlighted by his special attention to people's livelihood. After a 20-minute meeting with Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang on Tuesday morning, the vice-premier went to an elder care center to learn about the senior's everyday lives, followed by a tour to the Housing Authority Exhibition Center to learn about the development of the city's public housing system.

Later Li visited and chatted with a public housing unit family and then a middle-class family. In the evening Li had a tea gathering with Hong Kong's business people and professionals where he listened to their views.

On Thursday afternoon, Vice-Premier Li also looked on as officials of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) marked the completion of the new Government Secretariat building.

"It is the central government's requirement as well as a necessity for Hong Kong that the SAR concentrates on developing the economy effectively, improves people's livelihoods, progressively advances democracy and promotes harmony with tolerance and understanding," Li said.