At the meeting to share the memory of the Joint Celebration of the Reunification and 2008 Olympic Games by Beijing and Hong Kong, an exchange program launched in May in the mainland cities of Beijing and Tianjin, the young sports fans expressed their zeal about the Beijing Olympic Games in front of the president.

Hu was briefed on the Joint Celebrations which accommodated some 380 Hong Kong students aged between 14 and 20 and heard speeches given by seven students.

Liu Kam Wun, a student of the Buddhist Tai Hung College, said in his speech that he was deeply impressed by the national flag raising ceremony which he witnessed during the Beijing tour.

"I feel proud of being a Chinese," Liu said.

Lam Chun Yat, a student of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, sang a song titled My China Heart at the meeting, which triggered the gathering to beat time.

While talking to the youths, Hu said that he was impressed by Hong Kong students' willingness to contribute to the Beijing Olympic Games.

He said the Joint Celebrations program has helped Hong Kong students better understand the motherland.

The president also encouraged the students to study harder in a bid to contribute more in the future to Hong Kong and the country as well.

Hu arrived here earlier on Friday to attend celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the swearing-in ceremony of the third term government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.