Tung Chee-hwa is standing his ground

Mr Tung, who is under fire over his handling of a controversial anti-subversion bill, went to seek support in Beijing .

Two ministers have resigned from his government, hit by the most serious political crisis in Hong Kong since its return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

Mr Wen said Mr Tung's government "can definitely lead the Hong Kong people to overcome their current difficulties".

"I still believe Hong Kong compatriots will give due importance to the basic interest of Hong Kong in maintaining its stability," the prime minister said.

Problems masked

Street protests against the security bill in Hong Kong have forced the government to delay it.

But Chinese President Hu Jintao said after meeting Mr Tung that he "believed [the] legislation would obtain the understanding, support and recognition of the broad majority of Hong Kong compatriots after serious and broad consultations," official Xinhua news agency reported.

ANTI-SUBVERSION BILL Outlaws: Reporting state "secrets" Criticism of Beijing authority Access to "subversive" material Threatens currently legal groups, such as Falun Gong Q&A: Anti-subversion bill

The BBC's correspondent in Beijing, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says that the smiling handshake with Mr Hu and words of praise from Mr Wen are designed to give the impression that there is no crisis in Hong Kong's leadership.

However, our correspondent adds that away from the cameras there must be serious doubts and Beijing's endorsement of Mr Tung will do nothing to assuage the huge groundswell of public anger against him and his administration.

'Sleepless' over rally

Critics say the new laws would seriously undermine Hong Kong's political, religious and media freedoms.

The mass rally on 1 July, when more than 500,000 people marched in protest, left Mr Tung "sleepless", he has admitted.

He vowed to hold more meetings with political parties, the media and community leaders to increase his accountability.

Hong Kong is required to enact the security legislation under the Basic Law agreed when Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule.

But Mr Tung's many critics doubt whether he can still govern effectively.

"It was just lip service," Wong Sing-chi, from the opposition Democratic Party, said about Mr Tung's speech.

The current discontent in Hong Kong has also reignited calls for universal suffrage - which according to the territory's mini-constitution, can be implemented from 2007.

The leader of the largest pro-China party in the territory called on Friday for the next chief executive to be elected by completely democratic means.

"The whole scene will be given a new life when there is a clear direction in 2007. People will stop calling on Tung to go," Tsang Yok-sing, chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong, told the South China Morning Post.

Mr Tung's administration has so far been non-committal on its stance towards universal suffrage.