Hong Kong, Macao mourns former president Jiang Zemin

Members of the public leave condolence messages to the former president Jiang Zemin outside the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Thursday. AndY CHONG Communities in Hong Kong and Macao express deep sorrow over the passing of Jiang Zemin, the former president of the People's Republic of China, saying that Jiang was an outstanding and great leader whose contribution will always be remembered.

Jiang passed away in Shanghai on Wednesday, at the age of 96, due to leukemia and multiple organ failure. From Thursday, national flags and regional flags were flown at half-staff in main government buildings in Hong Kong and Macao. The central government s liaison offices in the two SARs have set up a mourning hall to receive condolences from the community. Groups of local residents and many influential figures, including the chief executives of the two SARs, have visited the mourning halls to express their grief.

As the core of the Communist Party of China's third generation of central collective leadership and the principal founder of the Theory of Three Represents, Jiang was widely recognized as an outstanding leader with high prestige, according to Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.

Jiang broke new ground for the country s comprehensive reform and opening-up, implemented the basic policies of law-based governance of the country, and upheld the principles of peaceful reunification of China and one country, two systems making great contributions to the smooth return of Hong Kong and Macao, Lee said.

Lee pledged to spare no effort in the full and faithful implementation of the one country, two systems principle to ensure Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, contributing to the realization of national rejuvenation.

He said that Jiang cared deeply about Macao's development and the lives of Macao compatriots and that the chief executive of Macao, Ho Iat-seng, expressed his deep sorrow over the passing of Jiang.

Jiang attended the handover ceremony of Macao's return to the motherland in 1999, which was Macao's most important historical moment. On the first anniversary of the city's return to the motherland, he visited Macao and had close contact with local residents. Ho said that Macao will always remember and miss Jiang's contribution to the country and the people.

Tung Chee-hwa, a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference CPPCC and the first chief executive of Hong Kong SAR, praised Jiang as a great and wise political leader who successfully implemented the principles of one country, two systems, and Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong Leung Chun-ying, who is also a vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, said that the HKSAR was able to overcome various Jiang had always supported the social and economic development of Hong Kong and provided a great development room for the city under the reform and opening-up policy and the nation's efforts to build a modern socialist country.

On behalf of all lawmakers, the president of Hong Kong's Legislative Council, Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, said Jiang had facilitated a closer relationship and better mutual understanding between the Chinese mainland and the HKSAR, and contributed a lot to SAR's long-term stability and prosperity.