Mourning: Room to grow recalled under his leadership

Macao Chief Executive Ho Iatseng also expressed his deep sorrow over the passing of Jiang, saying that Jiang cared deeply about the development of Macao and the lives of Macao compatriots.

Jiang attended the handover ceremony of Macao’s return to the motherland in 1999, which was Macao’s most important historical moment. In December 2000, on the first anniversary of the city’s return to the motherland, he also visited Macao and had close contact with local residents. Macao will always remember and miss Jiang’s contribution to the country and the people, Ho said.

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, hailed 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 under Jiang’s leadership, the HKSAR was able to overcome various difficulties during its crucial transition period after the handover. Jiang had always supported the social and economic development of Hong Kong and provided 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 Kwanyuen, said Jiang had fostered a closer relationship and better mutual understanding between the Chinese mainland and the HKSAR, and contributed a lot to the SAR’s long-term stability and prosperity.