Henry Tang pays tribute to Tung Chee-hwa
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Henry Tang Ying-yen, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, has mourned the passing of Hong Kong's first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa. Tang said Tung was an outstanding leader whose work helped guide Hong Kong after the handover and laid foundations for later economic, cultural and innovation development.
Key Points
- Tang expressed deep condolences on Wednesday over Tung Chee-hwa's death, calling him an outstanding leader who made major contributions to Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.
- Tang said Tung successfully led Hong Kong's return to the motherland and opened a new chapter for the "one country, two systems" framework.
- Recalling their time working together, Tang said he witnessed Tung's affection for Hong Kong and his persistence in confronting major difficulties.
- Tang said post-handover Hong Kong faced budget deficits after the dot-com bubble burst and during the Sars epidemic, but later returned to fiscal surpluses under Tung's leadership.
- He also credited Tung with helping transform pre-handover Hong Kong from a "cultural desert" into a vibrant cultural hub and with showing foresight on innovation and technology.
Why It Matters
Tang's remarks frame Tung's legacy around crisis management and long-term institution building, two themes that remain central to how Hong Kong assesses its post-handover leadership. The tribute also links Tung's tenure to present-day ambitions in culture and innovation, reinforcing his place in the city's official political narrative.