The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong set up a mourning hall for Jiang. John Lee, Director of the Liaisons Office Luo Huining, Director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong Zheng Yanxiong, along with former Chief Executives Leung Chun-ying and Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor paid tribute and expressed profound condolences for Jiang.

Lee also posted a picture on Facebook of himself bowing before a large portrait of Jiang inside a hall filled with huge yellow and white flower arrangements.

Senior government officials, including Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, and Secretary of Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, were seen entering the Liaisons Office to pay their respects.

Other politicians and legislators also sent their condolences.

A number of Hongkongers queued at Liaison Office to present bouquets and sign the book of condolences to pay their respects to the late president.

A woman surnamed Chan, 50, told AFP she decided to go because she found Jiang "very easygoing and humorous".

A mainland Chinese student queuing behind Chan was surprised. "I didn't expect any local Hong Kongers to commemorate him," he said, without giving his name.

Edward, 26, a mainland Chinese student in Hong Kong, said Jiang was "the most open and educated leader".

"He made the market economy part of the mainstream in China ... without that there would be no hope for democracy," he said.