Tributes Pour In After Tung Chee-hwa Dies at 89
RTHK · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong’s first Chief Executive, Tung Chee-hwa, has died at the age of 89. Tributes on Wednesday came from former senior officials, current ministers and business leaders, who remembered his leadership, personal mentorship and later efforts to serve both Hong Kong and the country.
Key Points
- Former Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Frederick Ma Si-hang (馬時亨), now chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, said he was deeply saddened and called Tung his benefactor.
- Ma, who served as a principal official from 2002 to 2008, said Tung was kind, cared for younger people, was patriotic and had strategic foresight.
- Executive Council Convenor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee (葉劉淑儀) said Tung had broad vision, valued technology development, and later expanded unofficial China-US and Hong Kong-US ties.
- Former Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung (梁錦松) said in a statement that he would always remember Tung, describing him as both a superior and mentor.
- Li Ka-shing and Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, together with the CK Group board, said Tung made indispensable contributions to implementing “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong.
- Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen (麥美娟) said Tung stayed dutiful amid political challenges and epidemic difficulties, and remained a lifelong role model.
- Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui (羅淑佩) said the Individual Visit Scheme under CEPA was secured by Tung from the central authorities to boost Hong Kong’s economy.
Why It Matters
The tributes focus not only on Tung’s time as the first post-handover Chief Executive, but also on policy ideas and networks that supporters say continued to shape Hong Kong after he left office. For Hong Kong readers, the responses show how officials and business figures are framing his legacy around governance, economic recovery measures and ties with the mainland and overseas.