Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s first post-handover leader, dies at 89

Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s first leader after British rule ended, has died aged 89. Local media reported that he died on Tuesday night surrounded by loved ones.

Tung took office in July 1997, succeeding the city’s last British governor, Chris Patten. He resigned in March 2005.

Crises and protests during his tenure

His time in office coincided with the Asian Financial Crisis, a bird flu outbreak from 1997 to 2002 and the 2003 SARS epidemic. Falling home prices were among the effects of the financial crisis.

His biggest political challenge came in July 2003, when about 500,000 Hongkongers protested against proposed national security legislation they feared would restrict civic rights. The administration abandoned the bill; declining health was cited as one reason for Tung’s later resignation, while some people said Beijing had pressured him.

From shipping to politics

Born in Shanghai in 1937, Tung earned a mechanical engineering degree from Liverpool University and worked at General Electric in the United States for almost a decade. He moved to Hong Kong in 1969, joined his father’s shipping company Orient Overseas and took control of it in 1979.

His political career began in 1992, when he was appointed to Governor Patten’s Executive Council. Despite limited political experience, Tung was widely believed to have Beijing’s backing.

After leaving office, he served as one of the vice-chairmen of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference for four consecutive terms, Xinhua reported. His last public appearance was in July 2021, and reports said he underwent heart surgery months later.

Tung is survived by his wife and three children. Former chief executives Leung Chun-ying and Carrie Lam described his contribution as historically significant, while Xinhua called him a “renowned patriot” and “distinguished social activist.”