Tung Chee-hwa, who served as Hong Kong’s first Chief Executive following the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty, has passed away at the age of 89. His office confirmed the news on Wednesday.
“Mr. Tung dedicated his life with an unwavering commitment to the service of the Nation and the Hong Kong SAR.
Tung “passed away peacefully in the presence of his beloved family members” on Tuesday, a statement from his office said. His contributions with integrity, compassion, and dignity will be well remembered,” it said. Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying hailed Tung’s role in implementing “one country, two systems” framework in Hong Kong and said he was deeply trusted by China’s leaders.
Earlier reporting noted: His office said in a statement that Tung passed away peacefully in the presence of his family members on Tuesday. As a public servant, Tung quietly worked his way through the political machines on both sides of the border, sitting on Beijing’s political advisory body and Hong Kong’s cabinet. He was also prone to policy gaffes that made him the butt of jokes. Tung’s government was accused of a sloppy, sluggish response.
Because of his close links to Beijing, Tung had a tumultuous eight-year tenure as the city’s leader, blighted by policy blunders and unease over China’s interference, widely believed to have been thrown reluctantly into the lion’s den of leadership. His family moved to Hong Kong in 1947, according to his biography on a government website. His tenure reached its nadir in December 2004 when he and his cabinet were given a public dressing-down by China’s then-president Hu Jintao for poor performance. Earlier reporting noted: A year later, Tung faced another serious test when SARS — severe acute respiratory syndrome — hit Hong Kong, killing nearly 300 people and devastating the economy.
Earlier reporting noted: Tung’s response to the two crises was widely criticized and his deep distrust of the media hindered his ability to improve his image.
