Hong Kong’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, dies at the age of 89

(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) Tung Chee-hwa, the first chief executive of Hong Kong after the handover of sovereignty in 1997, passed away on Tuesday (September 8) at the age of 89.

Tung Chee-hwa's office issued a statement early Wednesday morning stating that Tung Chee-hwa passed away at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital on Tuesday, with his family by his side when he passed away.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency also reported the news of his death due to illness on Wednesday, describing him as an outstanding contributor to the cause of "one country, two systems", a well-known patriot, and a "close friend" of the Chinese Communist Party. Former Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang, who succeeded Tung Chee Hwa, issued a statement through Hong Kong's "Office of the Former Chief Executive" to commemorate Tung Chee Hwa's "historic contribution" to the development of Hong Kong.

During his tenure, he tried to promote the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law

On July 1, 1997, Tung Chee-hwa took office as the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong. He took office after Hong Kong ended more than 150 years of British colonial rule and transferred power to China. He was responsible for promoting the initial practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong. According to relevant arrangements, Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy under Chinese sovereignty and maintains a capitalist system.

"For the first time in history, Hong Kong people have a clear identity and control their own destiny." Tung Chee-hwa said in his inauguration speech.

He said at the time: "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will do its best to maintain Hong Kong's consistent way of life, maintain Hong Kong's free economic system, adhere to the spirit of the rule of law, and develop democracy."

Six years later, Tung Chee-hwa tried to promote the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law. The proposed national security law covers crimes such as treason and sedition and expands police powers.

This legislation triggered about 500,000 people to take to the streets to protest, and the government was eventually forced to shelve the national security bill. The July 1 Parade has since become a regular event in Hong Kong every year.

Two years later, Tung resigned midway through his second term, citing health reasons. But the events of 2003 also set the stage for rising tensions between Hong Kong's pro-democracy parties and Beijing over the city's future.

The Article 23 legislation that Tung Chee Hwa failed to pass in 2003 was finally passed and implemented in the Hong Kong Legislative Council in March 2024.

Received "blessing" from Beijing to take office as Hong Kong Chief Executive

Tung Chee-hwa was born in Shanghai on July 7, 1937. He is the son of Tung Haoyun, the founder of the international shipping company "Oriental Overseas Container Line" (OOCL), known as the "Shipping King". According to reports, his mother Gu Lizhen is also the daughter of a well-known shipowner. Tung Chee-hwa moved to Hong Kong with his family when he was young.

In the 1990s, he had close ties with China's leadership, including then-President Jiang Zemin.

The outside world generally believes that Tung Chee Hwa is the candidate handpicked by Beijing to serve as the first chief executive of Hong Kong. In January 1996, Jiang Zemin walked into more than 150 members of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Preparatory Committee at the Beijing City Hall and shook hands with Tung Chee-hwa. At that time, the Hong Kong media described it as "Jiang's handshake among the crowd."

In December of the same year, Tung received 320 votes from the 400-member selection committee, defeating competitors such as the late former Hong Kong Chief Justice Sir Yang Tieliang and businessman Wu Guangzheng, and was elected as the first chief executive after Hong Kong returned to China.

loss of reputation

In the early days of his tenure, Tung was nicknamed "7-Eleven" because of his long working hours. However, as major crises occurred one after another, he was criticized for his clumsy political skills and indecisiveness, and his popularity gradually declined. He was even dubbed the "Old Ignorant Chairman" by some critics.

Shortly after Tung Chee Hwa took office in 1997, an outbreak of bird flu broke out in Hong Kong, the first time in the world that humans were infected with the virus. At the same time, the Asian financial crisis swept many countries and severely damaged Hong Kong's economy.

In his first year in office, Tung Chee-hwa proposed a target of building 85,000 residential units per year, but this policy was quickly abandoned. The South China Morning Post pointed out that many Hong Kong residents still believe that the "85,000 Housing Project" was the main reason for the sharp decline in housing prices in Hong Kong after 1997.

Tung has been widely criticized for his response to both crises, and his deep distrust of the media has limited his ability to improve his image. He also made many policy mistakes and became the target of public ridicule.

In 2002, Tung Chee-hwa was successfully re-elected. However, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic broke out the following year, killing nearly 300 people and severely damaging the Hong Kong economy. Coupled with Tung Chee-hwa's attempt to promote national security legislation in accordance with Article 23 of Hong Kong's Basic Law, his political reputation has suffered a blow. In 2004, Hong Kong people once again held large-scale demonstrations, demanding the direct election of the Hong Kong Chief Executive and all Legislative Council members. Tung Chee-hwa sided with the Chinese Communist Party leadership and opposed the relevant demands.

As political divisions in Hong Kong society grow, Beijing may realize that Tung's ability to control the situation is declining. Tung confirmed his resignation on March 10, 2005, insisting that the reason was his deteriorating health and not pressure from Beijing.

Behind the scenes influence

After Tung Chee Hwa stepped down as Hong Kong's chief executive, he was appointed by Beijing as vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and is regarded as an influential figure behind the scenes.

Tung Chee-hwa and his father Dong Haoyun have long been on good terms with former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, and Tung himself has also established a good relationship with former U.S. President George W. Bush.

In 2012, Xi Jinping visited the United States before becoming China's supreme leader, and Tung Chee Hwa accompanied him. When Xi Jinping visited Washington in 2015, Tung Chee Hwa also joined the delegation in an informal capacity.

However, as Sino-US relations worsen, Tung’s political influence as a bridge between the two countries has gradually weakened.

The China-U.S. Exchange Foundation he founded is a non-profit organization headquartered in Hong Kong. It has provided funding to American universities and actively contacted politically influential people in Washington. The foundation has been criticized for its close ties to the Chinese government. A 2018 report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission noted that the foundation had “engaged in influence operations.”