The Steel Spine of Zhu Rongji's Legacy Zhu Rongji, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 97, left an indelible mark on Hong Kong's economic trajectory.
His visit to the city in late 2002 was a turning point for the region, which was struggling with a severe economic slump and mounting deficits.
Zhu's unscripted speech at Government House, where he boasted about being first in line to buy 50 year long term Hong Kong bonds on the mainland, sent a clear message: the Central Government would not tolerate financial recklessness.