Tung Chee-hwa dies: Hong Kong’s first chief executive and former vice-chairman of the CPPCC at the age of 89

Tung Chee-hwa, the former vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the first chief executive of Hong Kong after the handover of power, passed away at the age of 89.

China's official Xinhua News Agency reported that Tung Chee-hwa passed away in Hong Kong at nearly 22:00 Hong Kong time (14:00 GMT) on Tuesday (September 8). Describing Tung Chee Hwa as "an outstanding contributor to 'One Country, Two Systems'" and "a close friend of the Communist Party of China."

The Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed in 1985, and the transfer of Hong Kong sovereignty from the United Kingdom to China on July 1, 1997 became a foregone conclusion. But until the then General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Jiang Zemin, came to shake hands with him at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, triggering rumors of "appointing the chief executive," probably no one in the public would have thought that Tung would be related to the ruling team after the handover of Hong Kong.

On the day of the handover of sovereignty, Tung Chee-hwa, who had inherited his father's business for 15 years, gave up his identity as a shipping tycoon, put on the cloak of a politician he had never worn before, and officially became the first chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. However, in the end, due to an epidemic and a failed national security legislation, Tung Chee-hwa sadly resigned.

Xinhua News Agency briefly reported the news of Tung Chee-hwa's death on the morning of Wednesday (9th). The obituary said: "An outstanding contributor to 'One Country, Two Systems', a famous patriot, an outstanding social activist, a close friend of the Communist Party of China, and a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, Vice Chairman of the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th National Committee and the first and second Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, passed away in Hong Kong at 21:57 on September 8, 2026 at the age of 89. "

When Tung Chee-hwa's office announced the news of his death in the early morning of that day, he said that Tung Chee-hwa "passed away peacefully, surrounded by his relatives." According to Hong Kong media reports, Tung Chee-hwa passed away at Happy Valley Sanatorium and Hospital.

After Xinhua News Agency reported the death of Tung Chee-hwa, current Hong Kong Chief Executive Lee Chia-chao issued a statement "deeply mourning." Li Ka-chiu said: "Mr. Tung Chee-hwa has taken "serving the country and serving Hong Kong" as his mission throughout his life. I am deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Tung Chee-hwa. His great contribution to Hong Kong throughout his life will always be in our hearts. On behalf of the Hong Kong SAR, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family."

The SAR government immediately forwarded a statement from former Chief Executive Donald Tsang, who took over the post after Tung Chee-hwa resigned in 2005.

Tsang said, "After returning to China, I worked with Mr. Tung. I personally experienced his selfless work spirit. He worked tirelessly all year round, even on weekends."

"I will never forget Mr. Tung's elegant smile, perseverance, long-term governance vision and deep feelings for his family and country. He dedicated his life to Hong Kong and his historic contributions will forever go down in history."

Leung Chun-ying, another former chief executive who assisted Tung Chee-hwa in his electoral work, posted a message to mourn Tung Chee-hwa via Facebook in the early hours of the morning. He said: "Mr. Dong has a kind heart and convinces people with his reason. He is a role model for our generation. Please rest in peace, Mr. Dong."

from one crisis to another

Tung Chee-hwa's ancestral home is Dinghai County, Ningbo, Zhejiang (now Dinghai District, Zhoushan, Zhejiang). He was born in Shanghai in 1937. He is the first of five brothers and sisters. His father, Dong Haoyun, is known as the "Ship King", and his mother, Gu Lizhen, is the daughter of Ningbo shipping tycoon Gu Zongrui.

In the past, Tung Chee-hwa's birthday was recorded on the official website of the SAR government as May 29, but in 2017, Tung Chee-hwa said in an exclusive interview with the official China Central Television and other media that it was actually July 7 - the day when the Japanese army launched the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in Beijing during World War II.

In December 1948, at the end of the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, Dong Haoyun and his family moved from Shanghai to Hong Kong. Tung Ho-wan, who had close ties with the Nationalist Government, sent his eldest son Tung Chee-hwa to Chung Hwa Middle School, a well-known pro-communist school. Later, Tung Chee-hwa's Secretary for Justice in the first SAR government, Leung Aishi, was an alumnus.

In the summer of 1954, Tung Chee-hwa enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Maritime Engineering at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. He graduated in 1960 and then went to work and study in the American business community under his father's instructions.

In 1969, Tung Chee Hwa returned to work at the Hong Kong head office, and soon encountered a fire on the "Offshore University". His father, Tung Ho-wan, spent a huge sum of money to buy this old cruise ship, hoping to use it to run schools. However, it capsized in "the largest fire in Hong Kong's history" on January 9, 1972. Tung Chee-hwa, who presided over the renovation, escaped in time.

Later, Dong and his son purchased another smaller cruise ship and converted it into the "Universal Academy". The successor of the "Universal University" turned out to be a stepping stone for Tung Chee-hwa to embark on his official career. On March 29, 1989, Tung arrived in Shanghai on the maiden voyage of the "Universal University". During this period, he came into contact with Jiang Zemin, then Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Zhu Rongji, Mayor of Shanghai.

In the early morning of April 15, 1982, Dong Haoyun died of a heart attack at the age of 70. In his later years, Tung Ho Wan was still determined to expand his fleet. However, the two world oil crises in the 1970s caused the shipping industry to decline, resulting in Tung Group and Orient Overseas, which is listed in Hong Kong, owing billions of Hong Kong dollars. Tung Chee Hwa and his younger brother Tung Jiancheng were saddled with a family business heavily in debt.

Tung Chee Hwa's attempt to seek emergency funding from Taiwan failed. On September 2, 1986, the well-known "pro-communist businessman" Fok Ying-tung injected US$120 million to help OOCL tide over the difficulties. However, as a result, Hong Kong public opinion has long discussed whether Fok Ying-tung provided assistance on behalf of the Chinese Communist regime.

Ten years later, Tung Chee-hwa admitted at a press conference after announcing his candidacy to be the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong that China was involved, but refused to disclose the identity of the specific persons. Fok Yingdong later stated that it was purely business talk at the time and that China was by no means intending to save it. However, it is an indisputable fact that Tung Chee-hwa began to increase his contacts with the Chinese Communist Party.

From business to politics

Although he had no political experience, Tung Chee Hwa was invited by Chris Patten, the last Governor of Hong Kong, to join the Executive Council in March 1992 and became a senior member of the British Hong Kong government. This laid the groundwork for him to become the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong.

On January 26, 1996, the "Inaugural Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the National People's Congress of China" was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. In front of reporters and cameras, then Chinese President Jiang Zemin recognized Tung Chee-hwa from many preparatory committee members and took the initiative to shake hands with him. The rumor that Tung Chee-hwa was "hand-picked" to be the chief executive of Hong Kong spread like wildfire.

Not long after, Tung Chee-hwa officially competed for the position of chief executive. On December 11, 1996, the "Selection Committee for the First Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" (Selection Committee) selected by the Preparatory Committee voted. Tung Chee-hwa received 320 votes from 398 members and was overwhelmingly elected as the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR.

In the early morning of July 1, 1997, shortly after the handover ceremony of Hong Kong's sovereignty, Tung Chee-hwa was formally sworn in in front of then Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng.

Sir David Akers-Jones, the late Chief Secretary of the British Hong Kong Government (now the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong SAR Government) once said of Tung Chee-hwa in a BBC interview: "Of all the candidates, Tung seems to be the candidate who meets all the conditions. He has good connections with all over the world. He is an international figure. Because of his shipping business and his popularity in China, he is quite famous in Beijing and Taiwan."

In the BBC Hong Kong handover special program, Tung Chee-hwa said: "I hope that in five years' time, we will see a stable, passionate, democratic Hong Kong, and a Hong Kong governed by the rule of law. We will see a Hong Kong that is proud to be Chinese, we will see an international metropolis that continues to prosper, and we will see Hong Kong making an important contribution to China's modernization."

Outgoing Governor Patten told the BBC at the time: "The challenge he (Tung Chee-hwa) faces is to prove to the people of Hong Kong that he is the person who represents them in dealing with Beijing, not the person who represents Beijing in dealing with Hong Kong."

"The Eighth Year of Jianhua"

After Tung Chee-hwa was elected, he said the mantra "Hong Kong is good, the country is good; the country is good, Hong Kong is better" on many occasions.

At that time, the Chinese government was dissatisfied that the democratic political reform plan proposed by Chris Patten in his 1992 policy address "undermined the smooth transition" and decided to abolish the "through-train" plan for the transition of the Legislative Council of British Hong Kong into the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and established its own Provisional Legislative Council (Provisional Legislative Council), which began operating in Shenzhen in February 1997.

On April 9, 1997, the Chief Executive-designate's office issued a consultation document on "Civil Liberties and Social Order", recommending that in accordance with the opinions of the legal group of the SAR Preparatory Committee, the provisions of the "Public Security Ordinance" and "Society Ordinance" that had been abolished by the British Hong Kong Legislative Council should be restored, including the need for prior application for processions and assemblies, and the need for associations to register with the government. At the same time, elements such as prohibiting Hong Kong political organizations from accepting financial aid from foreign countries and Taiwan were introduced to safeguard China's national security.

The Provisional Legislative Council passed the proposal on June 14, and it will take effect on July 1, the day when power is transferred. The Chris Patten government and Hong Kong democrats have criticized Tung Chee-hwa's incoming administration for tightening Hong Kong people's freedoms, with democrats calling it "restoring evil laws." Opinion polls conducted by the media also reflected that Tung Chee-hwa's popularity dropped immediately.

Shortly after the establishment of the SAR, Tung Chee-hwa delivered his first policy address to the Provisional Legislative Council on October 8, proposing the goal of achieving 70% of residents' home ownership within ten years, launching the "85,000 Housing Plan" to ensure the construction of at least 85,000 residential units every year, and the "Tenants Purchase" plan to sell 250,000 rental public housing units, etc.

However, the Asian financial crisis had already broken out at that time, significantly increasing the supply in the real estate market and impacting private housing prices, causing public dissatisfaction, and the "85,000" policy was quietly shelved.

As the financial turmoil intensified, and internationally renowned financial speculator George Soros targeted the Hong Kong dollar in the foreign exchange market, then-Financial Secretary Donald Tsang's team used the SAR government's huge reserves to intervene in the market in August 1998. Although Soros was repelled, the SAR government, which had always adhered to the principles of a free market economy, instantly held stocks worth HK$118 billion (US$15 billion), causing controversy.

After 19 years, Tung Chee Hwa attended a speech on his birthday in 2017. He recalled that at that time he called Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen and asked whether Beijing would support Hong Kong in dealing with international speculators. Qian Qichen refused. Qian Qichen also reminded him that Beijing would not interfere in Hong Kong's internal affairs under "one country, two systems".

Professor Michael J. Enright, a former scholar at the University of Hong Kong who specializes in competitiveness, once told the BBC: "I think in fact, the Hong Kong government's decision to intervene in the stock market in 1998 may have saved the Hong Kong stock market from collapse. I think people have underestimated this approach. If there is trouble in the Hong Kong stock market, it will spread to all parts of the world."

Facing the economic downturn caused by the financial crisis, Tung Chee-hwa announced the construction of Disneyland in November 1999 in an attempt to attract tourists from mainland China. However, the park controlled by the SAR government has suffered losses for a long time since its opening in 2005.

This is just one of the many so-called "white elephant" projects that earned Tung Chee-hwa infamy. Concepts such as the construction of the Science Park, Cyberport, Chinese Medicine Port, and West Kowloon Cultural and Arts District were launched one after another. Among them, a considerable area of ​​land in the Cyberport was eventually developed into luxury private residences by Li Chak-kai, the son of real estate tycoon Li Ka-shing. This attracted public opinion and accusations of "official-business collusion" in the real estate industry.

As his first five-year term came to an end, Tung Chee-hwa proposed reforming the system of high-level officials promoted by civil servants and implementing a Western cabinet-style "senior official accountability system." Chief Secretary for Administration Anson Chan, who was originally the head of civil servants, announced his retirement more than a year early in January 2001. Anson Chan told the media many years later that her resignation was due to her inability to persuade Tung Chee Hwa to abandon the implementation of the "senior official accountability system". She believed that this system ultimately failed to strengthen the accountability of SAR government officials to the public and failed to cultivate political leaders.

Tung Chee-hwa was re-elected as Chief Executive in July 2002 without any competition. In February 2003, the SAR government announced the National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill formulated in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law. Democrats and their supporters generally believed that the provisions were vague and harsh and seriously threatened freedom of speech, press freedom and other fields.

At almost the same time, the SARS coronavirus epidemic (also known as SARS, SARS, SARS) broke out and lasted until June, killing 299 people. Hong Kong citizens were dissatisfied with the SAR government's failure to control the epidemic in a timely manner and were dissatisfied with the "Article 23 legislation", which triggered a large-scale protest on July 1. 500,000 people chanted slogans such as "Tung Chee-hwa steps down" along the way.

The late Hong Kong Liberal Party founder Li Pengfei, who had known Tung Chee-hwa for many years, criticized Tung Chee-hwa in his memoirs: "If he wants to force legislation, the situation is like putting the last straw on the camel's back. Public dissatisfaction will break out at the first touch. His governance not only failed, but collapsed."

In early September, Tung Chee-hwa announced the withdrawal of the “23-Article Legislation”. He told Ming Pao in 2017: "From the central government's point of view, it is necessary to enact 23 articles of legislation. No country can live without a national security law. When (Hong Kong) hesitated, the central government began to doubt Hong Kong. And when there is suspicion, you cannot say that you push people away and pretend that nothing has happened. (The central government) began to be wary. Why is Hong Kong like this?"

On the eve of the anniversary of the handover of sovereignty in 2023, Hong Kong's fifth chief executive, Lee Ka-chao, finally proposed the "23-article legislation" timetable again, and it was finally implemented in March 2024.

According to the original version of the Hong Kong Basic Law promulgated in 1990, the method for selecting the Chief Executive "ultimately achieves the goal of being nominated by a broadly representative nomination committee in accordance with democratic procedures and then being elected by universal suffrage"; the method for selecting the Legislative Council "ultimately achieves the goal of having all members elected by universal suffrage" "Goal", and the relevant Annexes 1 and 2 of the Basic Law stipulate that if the electoral methods after 2007 need to be revised, "it must be approved by a two-thirds majority of all members of the Legislative Council, agreed by the Chief Executive, and reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record."

In early 2004, Tung Chee-hwa established the "Constitutional Development Task Force" to study issues such as the 2007 Chief Executive election and the 2008 Legislative Council election. However, China's National People's Congress passed a resolution in April vetoing the implementation of universal suffrage from those two elections. In the same year, the "July 1st" march was held with the theme of fighting for universal suffrage. The organizer, the Civil Rights Front, said at the time that 530,000 people took to the streets to protest, setting a new record in 2003.

On December 20, Tung Chee Hwa led officials of the Hong Kong SAR to attend the fifth anniversary event of the establishment of the Macau SAR and reported to Chinese President Hu Jintao. Hu Jintao told Tung Chee Hwa's team in front of reporters and cameras from Hong Kong and Macao media: "We must carefully review the process of implementing the policies of 'one country, two systems', 'Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong', and a high degree of autonomy over the past seven years since Hong Kong's return, sum up experience, identify deficiencies, continuously improve the level of governance, and manage and build Hong Kong better."

Public opinion in Hong Kong generally interpreted Hu Jintao's remarks as a lecture to Tung Chee-hwa, and Beijing's demand for Tung's resignation quickly spread. In the policy address released in January 2005, Tung Chee-hwa admitted for the first time that “when formulating policies, we failed to consider the citizens’ thoughts and concerns in all aspects.” When reporters asked whether he could complete the remaining term of his term, Tung Chee-hwa also said: "I will definitely do this job well and do it better."

From the end of February to the beginning of March, rumors spread rapidly that Tung Chee Hwa would serve as vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, seemingly paving the way for his dignified resignation. On March 10, 2005, Tung Chee-hwa confirmed that he had submitted a "resignation report" to Beijing, making the rumors of stepping down come true.

When meeting reporters at the Government Headquarters, Tung Chee-hwa said: "I am nearly 68 years old this year, and time is not forgiving. My health is even more affected by long-term work of 16 to 18 hours a day."

"I found that if I stood for too long, I couldn't do it."

Since Tung Chee Hwa resigned, he has been known as "stepping down with a sore foot". Some media have called his years in power the "eight years of Jian Hwa".

The BBC asked Lord Patten at the time if he would be happy to see Tung Chee-hwa step down. Patten said: "No, he is a very serious public servant in Hong Kong. I don't think he wanted to do this job in the first place, and he was a little isolated from me. He had to deal with the Asian financial collapse and the SARS pandemic. It was not easy for him. He worked hard and did his best. He didn't have time to care about democracy."

Christine Lok, who has served as a member of the British Hong Kong Legislative Council, the Hong Kong SAR Legislative Council and the Hong Kong Deputy Secretary for the Environment, told the BBC at the time that Tung Chee-hwa's governance ability was challenged almost every day, which added to Beijing's troubles and gave Beijing the impression that Tung Chee-hwa's ability to do things was exaggerated. Tung Chee-hwa also failed to establish a good relationship with Hu Jintao's team, which had just come on stage at the time.

Christine Luk, who founded the Hong Kong think tank Civic Exchange Policy Institute, later commented further in a co-author with researcher Lai Wenyan: "Tung Chee-hwa's policy preferences reflect his ideals of establishing a benevolent and Confucian paternalistic government. However, he does not always clearly understand the strategies and operations of policy formulation and implementation, and many of his proud plans are based on some wrong personal whims."

"Tung Chee-hwa was tired of those who held opposite views, and sometimes he was even more irritated, especially when he was asked to answer questions from members in the Legislative Council. As a result, in the end, he tried to avoid meeting those who opposed his wishes and political parties."

"Ranked in the Immortal Class"

In 2017, on the occasion of Tung Chee-hwa's 80th birthday, the Tung family sold all of its OOCL interests to the Chinese state-owned company COSCO Shipping Lines for HK$49.2 billion (US$4.34 billion). "Forbes" magazine estimates that as of 2023, Tung Chee Hwa and Tung Chien-cheng's family wealth will reach US$6.5 billion, ranking 12th among the richest people in Hong Kong, China.

In 2019, "anti-extradition" demonstrations took place in Hong Kong, once again highlighting the contradiction between Hong Kong's pro-democracy supporters and Beijing. The National People's Congress has successively promulgated the "Hong Kong National Security Law" and the "Decision on Improving the Electoral System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" to strengthen control over Hong Kong in the name of national security.

Tung Chee-hwa made a high-profile endorsement of Beijing's decision, attended the unveiling ceremony of the Chinese central government's Office of National Security in Hong Kong, and delivered a speech supporting the rectification of the electoral system.

On March 5, 2021, 84-year-old Tung Chee-hwa fell during the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, triggering speculation about his health. He continued to attend public events, but he was absent from the flag-raising ceremony held by the Hong Kong SAR government to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. This was the first time he had missed such a ceremony. As of mid-October, a spokesperson confirmed that Tung had undergone surgery in September and was recovering. Many Hong Kong media said that Tung Chee Hwa was hospitalized at Queen Mary Hospital for heart surgery.

On December 19, Hong Kong held its first Legislative Council election after Beijing's rectification. Tung Chee-hwa was absent from the Election Committee sector voting for the same reason of staying home to recuperate.

On March 4, 2022, the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference opened, and Tung Chee-hwa was no longer seen. The public relations representative of the Tung family recently stated that Tung Chee-hwa is not expected to go to Beijing for a meeting.

On July 1, 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping went to Hong Kong to preside over the 25th anniversary celebration of Hong Kong's sovereignty handover. Tung Chee Hwa also did not attend. The Tung family's public relations explained that he was on vacation. The official Xinhua News Agency reported that Xi Jinping entrusted relevant parties to convey greetings to Tung Chee Hwa.

On January 17, 2023, the list of members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference was announced. Tung Chee-hwa's name did not appear among them, which means that Tung Chee-hwa, who was 85 years old and had not been seen for a long time, resigned as vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and withdrew from the ranks of national leaders. In September of the same year, he resigned as chairman of the United Hong Kong Fund. Since then, there has been no trace of him in other activities such as the anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and elections and voting.

On September 8, 2026, Tung Chee-hwa passed away. Without the aura of a shipping magnate and a national leader, he left as a civilian. His office issued a statement saying: "Mr. Tung Chee Hwa was an upright man, with his family and country in mind, and dedicated himself to his work. His high-minded and upright spirit will remain in our hearts forever."