Beijing leaders should 'ride the wave of change and take China fully into the 21st century', President Clinton said.
Asked whether he felt democracy could come to the mainland, Mr Clinton replied: 'I believe there will be.' Mr Clinton praised President Jiang Zemin as providing 'good leadership for a right time'.
'I think he has a quality that is profoundly important at this moment in our history. He has a good imagination, he has vision, he can visualise, he can imagine a future that is different from the present,' said Mr Clinton.
The United States President said Mr Jiang's decision to broadcast their debate showed 'his personal expression of confidence that he could stand there and answer questions from reporters not only from China but the US as well'.
'The present Government, headed by this President and this Premier, are clearly committed to reforms. China is making a remarkable transformation,' said Mr Clinton.
Asked whether he thought democracy would come to the mainland within his lifetime, he said: 'Yes, I certainly hope so.' 'Here in Hong Kong we end the trip, where I hope China's future begins,' Mr Clinton said, holding up the SAR as a model for democratic and market reforms.
