Remembering Zhu Rongji and understanding his legacy

The late Chinese premier showed genuine love and support for Hong Kong and kept ‘one country, two systems’ dear to his heart

It was early afternoon on August 12 when I received a message from a friend on the mainland that made my heart sink: “Our much-respected Premier Zhu left us this morning!”

It was an uncertain but exciting time, when the “one country, two systems” governing principle for Hong Kong was being rolled out. The implementation of the special formula designed by paramount leader Deng Xiaoping and officially recognised in China’s constitution – which empowered the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the legislation of the Basic Law – was well received but still a work in progress.