``In Hong Kong, where people are out on the street, you want a street fighter [to be the chief executive]. Then you can avoid confrontations,'' said the man who ruled the island city state with an iron fist for three decades and who once told biographers that anyone who opposed him would need ``to put on knuckledusters.''

Commenting on the qualities of Chief Secretary Donald Tsang to be the next chief executive, Lee said at a business luncheon Wednesday that Tsang was very different and younger than his ex-boss Tung Chee-hwa, who was ``too nice'' but no street fighter.

Lee also urged for an understanding of the limits placed on a chief executive under the one country, two systems formula where they are held accountable to both the ``master'' in China and the people of Hong Kong.

``He was too nice a man; not sufficiently young and nimble. He wasn't a street fighter,'' Lee said of Tung, who nevertheless impressed the Singaporean strongman with his ``seriousness'' in approaching problems. Lee said he was not sure if Tsang had the makings of a street fighter, but acknowledged he has different qualities from Tung.

``[Tsang] has a different personality and character than CHTung. He's younger, so maybe he can learn some tricks.''

Tsang, widely tipped to be the next chief, welcomed Lee at Government House. They previously met in 2003 when Tsang visited Singapore.

The former Singapore prime minister, who remained in office until 1990, cautioned people to have realistic expectations of the chief executive because Hong Kong's real master is Beijing.

``[Being the chief executive] is a very difficult job. You have a master in China and subsidiary master in Hong Kong,'' Lee said. ``You know what he can't support because there are limits as to what he can do within one country, two systems. Beijing has no intention of allowing Hong Kong to be a pacesetter or a Trojan Horse to try to change the system in China.''

Lee said the economy of Hong Kong had benefited from China's help, such as through CEPA and allowing more mainland tourists to visit the territory.

However, these benefits could be taken back any time, he warned.

``The same tap that was open can be shut,'' Lee said.

Lee received the title of Singapore's Minister Mentor, the position created after his son Lee Hsien Loong became the third prime minister in 2004.

As prime minister, Lee espoused the belief that only firm leadership could maintain social and political stability in Singapore and other Asian nations. He told the authors of Lee Kuan Yew: The Man and His Ideas, published in 1998, that ``anybody who decides to take me on needs to put on knuckledusters. If you think you can hurt me more than I can hurt you, try. There is no other way you can govern a Chinese society.''