Jiang Zemin: Leader who counted Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule as one of his proudest achievements

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No Chinese leader had set foot in Hong Kong for more than a century until then-president Jiang Zemin landed on the eve of the city’s historic return to Chinese rule on July 1, 1997, with a strong pledge of non-interference in local affairs.

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.