A look back at late Zhu Rongji's connection with HK

Zhu Rongji visited Hong Kong four times and was often asked about Hong Kong during his public appearances.

His speeches were remembered by their humour and rapport with audiences.

In 1990, Zhu Rongji visited Hong Kong as Shanghai mayorto promote the Pudong development project.

At the time, he said no matter what kind of "base" Hong Kong is, he would be willing to come.

He also visited public housing estates in Ma On Shan... and talked with some residents there.

As Shanghai's mayor, Zhu said at the time that it would be very hard for Shanghai to catch up with Hong Kong while noting the port city's relationship with Hong Kong was one of cooperation.

By 1997, Zhu had been promoted as Vice Premier of the State Council.

After a visit to Australia and New Zealand, he made a brief stopover in Hong Kong.

After Hong Kong's handover in 1997, Zhu took a trip to Hong Kong to attend the annual meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Authority.

There, he welcomed bankers to set up shop in China but jokingly reminded them not to expand too fast in case the costs ate into their profits.

The year Zhu Rongji became China's Premier, Asia was roiled by the financial crisis -- and he sent Hong Kong a strong dose of assurance.

He said if the Special Administrative Region needed help from the central government, as long as the city made a request, Beijing would spare no effort to safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and security -- and protect its linked exchange rate system.

During his overseas visits, Zhu Rongji often interacted with Hong Kong reporters on the ground.

They include taking questions on the Tibet independence movement, where he noted some demonstrators didn't even know where Xizang or Tibet was -- and cheekily evaded direct answers to questions, seeking his comments on Macao's first Chief Executive Edmund Ho's performance.

Zhu also once said he read two or three Hong Kong newspapers every day to keep up with the territory's economic situation.

In 2002, as Hong Kong was struggling with a flagging economy with a severe government deficit, Zhu visited Hong Kong that year to rally the public.

"My fellow compatriots, it's not the end of the road yet," he said.

He said Hong Kong could issue 50-year long-term bonds in the mainland and he would be the first to buy them.

Zhu also used lyrics of the classic tune of Below the Lion Rock to encourage Hong Kongers to stand together to weather the temporary setbacks.