Behind Zhu Rongji’s ‘Is Li Tong Here?’ Remark
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
More than 20 years after Zhu Rongji left office in 2003, a former Hong Kong journalist recalled one of her best-known interactions with the late former Chinese premier after news of his death on August 12 prompted renewed public attention. She said the often-cited line “Is Li Tong here?” has been widely misunderstood, because Zhu did not say it at a premier’s press conference. Instead, he made the remark in November 2002 in Hong Kong while meeting representatives of mainland-funded institutions, using the episode to criticize a poorly handled change to telephone charges between Hong Kong and the mainland.
Key Points
- The writer said Zhu had largely disappeared from public view after stepping down as premier in 2003, and his death on August 12 revived memories of past reporting encounters.
- She said many online accounts wrongly claim Zhu’s “Is Li Tong here?” remark at a press conference led directly to her getting a chance to ask a question.
- According to her account, the remark was made during Zhu’s final visit to Hong Kong as premier after the 16th Communist Party Congress in November 2002.
- The immediate backdrop was controversy over planned two-way charging for Hong Kong-mainland calls, introduced with insufficient communication before the 16th Party Congress.
- She said she confronted Zhu on arrival in Cambodia in early November 2002, and he later cited that encounter in Hong Kong while faulting the fee increase as insufficiently considered.
Why It Matters
The recollection offers a rare first-person glimpse of how a top Chinese leader responded when a Hong Kong concern was raised directly and publicly. For Hong Kong readers, the episode underlines the practical importance of frank cross-border communication and careful policy timing when measures can affect public sentiment and the city’s ties with the mainland.