Recognition of Zhao

Zhao Ziyang never visited Hong Kong but he played a highly significant role in helping shape the city's future. He will be remembered here as a reformist leader who was in touch with the people -- a Communist Party chief with a distinctive human touch.

Zhao was a popular leader and he became an icon of the mainland's pro-democracy movement. But he posed no real threat to the central government in the twilight years of his life. His memory is unlikely to do so now that he is dead.

It would be optimistic to think that a posthumous "rehabilitation" of Zhao by the party is imminent. But we hope people on the mainland will be allowed to freely mourn his passing -- and to openly pay tribute to the former leaders undoubted achievements. -- South China Morning Post, Hong Kong