The chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region led the tributes to China Daily Hong Kong on its 20th anniversary, commending the newspaper for its civic commitment and influential role in advancing the "one country, two systems" principle.

"Throughout the historic transformational period of the past two decades, China Daily Hong Kong Edition has earned the respect and loyalty of readers through its insightful commentary and reporting," Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor wrote in her congratulatory message.

Tung Chee-hwa, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the SAR's first chief executive, said that it "serves the local community and also enjoys a vast readership outside Hong Kong" and expressed his confidence that it would continue to go from strength to strength.