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Former Hong Kong Prime Minister Tung Chee-hwa dies at the age of 89

tung chee-hwa Hong Kong head of government

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Former Hong Kong Prime Minister Tung Chee-hwa passed away peacefully at the age of 89 surrounded by his family.
Tung was Hong Kong's first head of government after its return to China in 1997 and a proponent of the "one country, two systems" principle.
He resigned in 2005 for health reasons following massive protests against a planned anti-subversion law in 2003.

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Why It Matters

Tung Chee-hwa was Hong Kong's first head of government after the transfer of sovereignty from Britain to China in 1997. He was elected by a committee loyal to Beijing and was considered politically inexperienced, but remained loyal to the leadership in Beijing. His term in office was marked by mass protests against a planned anti-coup law in 2003, which was later withdrawn.

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Former Hong Kong Prime Minister Tung Chee-hwa is dead, Tung's office announced. Tung passed away peacefully with his family on Tuesday (local time). He was 89 years old.

Tung was Hong Kong's first head of government after Great Britain, the then colonial power, handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997. Under the motto “one country, two systems,” Beijing promised the people there certain freedoms.

The Shanghai-born businessman and shipowner, who was elected to the post in Hong Kong by a committee loyal to Beijing, was considered politically inexperienced. He remained loyal to the leadership in Beijing. "I firmly believe that Hong Kong has an even brighter and more successful future as a special administrative region of China," Tung said in his inaugural speech on July 1, 1997.

In the summer of 2003, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against a planned anti-subversion law. Critics saw this as a possible threat to Hong Kong's freedoms. The government later rejected the proposed law.

At that time, demands for more say and direct elections for the Hong Kong government grew among parts of the population. Tung followed Beijing's line and rejected the demands. In 2005 he resigned early, citing his health.