Days after a sweeping leadership reshuffle of China's ruling Communist Party in November 2002, then Premier Zhu Rongji set foot in Hong Kong to reassure the city that the next generation of Chinese leaders will not leave it out to dry.

Describing the former British colony as "a bright pearl with great hope and prospects", Mr Zhu told a welcoming banquet: "If Hong Kong were ruined in our hands, we would become sinners of the nation. This will not happen."