Jiang, who returned to Beijing after opening the territory's new airport and marking the first anniversary of its handover, painted a glowing future for Hong Kong even though its lagging economy is expected to dip into recession later this year.

Praising the ``remarkable achievements'' of the government of chief executive Tung Chee-Hwa, he pledged Beijing's support for Hong Kong's bid to maintain its currency peg to the US dollar - considered vital for long-term prosperity. Shortly before he left, he told reporters, ``I hope to return to Hong Kong soon, but I don't know when.''

Jiang's China Airlines Boeing 747 jet made the first international departure from Hong Kong's gleaming multi-billion dollar airport. After unveiling a commemorative plaque in the cavernous terminal building, Jiang Waved and smiled from the jet's windows as ittaxied across deserted aprons lashed by a gusts of wind and driving rain. The airport opens to commercial traffic on Monday.

Earlier, Jiang inspected China's biggest military base in Hong Kong, striding along a red carpet in front of the troops shouting ``How are you comrades!'' Several hundred army, navy and air force troops at their base at Stonecutters Island shouted back ``How are you chairman Jiang!" The inspection was a rare chance for the public to see the People's Liberation Army (PLA) forces who are normally confined to barracks. Away from the official events, Jiang allowed his normally tight-lipped and formal bearing to slip, revealing a lighter, more relaxed side to his character.

A jovial Jiang, in open necked shirt and jacket, strolled through a shopping mall in an unprecedented walkabout on Wednesday.

But angry protests also erupted. Outside the venue of an official banquet on Wednesday, demonstrators jostled with police and demanded justice for the pro-democracy protestors massacred inTiananmen Square in 1989.

The local media on Thursday enthusiastically hailed Jiang's promise to stand by Hong Kong in its hour of need.

The Hong Kong Economic Times said Jiang's pledges could ``quickly revive the economy'' and boost economic development in Hong Kong and China, while the Sing Tao daily wrote: ``Hong Kong will naturally prosper and the future is bright.''

But the English-language Hong Kong Standard said: ``If we are as good as we have been telling ourselves and the world at large, then the mainland's continued progress is all that we need.'

'Jiang's visit was also welcomed on busy city streets but some people warned that China would have to do more to help Hong Kong emerge from economic turmoil.

`Britian-China ties better': Britain wants to use Hong Kong as a bridge to a solid relationship with China, deputy prime minister John Prescott said here on Thursday.

Britain has been low-key in its former colony since the historic return to Chinese rule on July 1 lastyear, but Prescott said ``we look forward to improving our relationship'' with Beijing, following what he called the ``smooth'' handover.

``Hong Kong is a very important bridge for us,'' said Prescott, who is in Hong Kong for the handover anniversary, to see the opening of the new Chek Lap Kok Airport and then go on to China late on Thursday. ``There is growing confidence here,'' he said.

Prescott praised China for sticking to its promise of not interfering in Hong Kong affairs.