Remembering Zhu Rongji and understanding his legacy

“History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes.” This famous quote, widely attributed to Mark Twain, keeps playing in my mind as China mourns the death of former premier Zhu Rongji and reflects on his legacy.

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!”

As we anxiously waited for the official confirmation that would launch us into a frantically busy news day, my mind went back to those years when I, as a journalist, had multiple opportunities to encounter Zhu up close. I was as impressed by his statesmanship, wisdom and wit on the international stage as I was touched by the genuine love he showed Hong Kong.

Zhu became the fifth premier of China in March 1998 as the country was undergoing a tremendous transformation from decades of a planned economy to a “market economy with Chinese characteristics” under then-president Jiang Zemin. It was only about nine months after Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty following more than a century of British colonial rule.

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.

Back then there were plenty of concerns, doubts and political narratives about it being “over” for Hong Kong, and some of that remains to this day, although the facts speak louder about the progress the city has made and its transformation for the better after its return to the motherland. Zhu and Jiang kept one country, two systems dear to their hearts, and China’s current leadership has neither changed that approach nor intends to.