Remembering Zhu Rongji and his Hong Kong legacy
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A commentary on the reported death of former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji looks back at his public legacy and the author’s personal encounters with him during a formative period for China and Hong Kong. It places Zhu’s premiership in the years after Hong Kong’s 1997 handover, when “one country, two systems” was still being implemented and closely watched.
Key Points
- The writer said he received a message on the afternoon of August 12 from a mainland friend saying: “Our much-respected Premier Zhu left us this morning!”
- Zhu Rongji became China’s fifth premier in March 1998, during a major shift from a planned economy to a “market economy with Chinese characteristics” under Jiang Zemin.
- His premiership began about nine months after Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, at a time of uncertainty and optimism for the city.
- The article says “one country, two systems”, designed by Deng Xiaoping and recognised in China’s constitution, was being rolled out and remained a work in progress.
- The writer recalls being impressed by Zhu’s statesmanship, wisdom and wit internationally, and by what he described as Zhu’s genuine affection for Hong Kong.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the reflection revisits a leadership era closely tied to the city’s early post-handover transition and to official assurances over “one country, two systems”. It also frames Zhu’s legacy as part of a continuing debate over how Hong Kong has changed since returning to Chinese rule.