Jiang Zemin: leader who counted Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule as one of his proudest achievements
- Jiang Zemin promised Beijing would unswervingly implement the principles of ‘one country, two systems’ and ‘Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong’
- Past and present Hong Kong chief executives pay tribute to ‘outstanding leader’
Jiang, the first Chinese head of state to visit Hong Kong, flew in on the afternoon of June 30 along with then premier Li Peng, Zuo Lin, widow of the late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, architect of the “one country, two systems” governing principle, and other officials to mark the end of 156 years of British colonial rule.
He delivered a memorable speech stressing that the central government “will not and should not be allowed to intervene in matters that ought to be handled by the Hong Kong SAR”.
The president declared: “This must be achieved and it will be achieved.”
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Former Chinese president Jiang Zemin dies at the age of 96
Jiang promised that Beijing would unswervingly implement the principles of one country, two systems, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and “a high degree of autonomy”, and keep the city’s socio-economic system and way of life unchanged.