Tung Chee-hwa, the first chief executive of Hong Kong after its handover from British to Chinese rule, has died at the age of 89. His office confirmed his peaceful passing surrounded by family members on Tuesday.
Tung, a prominent shipping magnate before entering politics, was chosen in 1997 by a panel of pro-Beijing elites to lead the territory. Many believed his loyalty to Beijing was assured, partly due to financial assistance from Chinese state-run banks that had helped rescue his family's shipping company, Orient Overseas Container Line, in the 1980s.
His tenure, from 1997 to 2005, occurred during a sensitive period for Hong Kong as the "one country, two systems" principle was being tested. Tung was recognized for his strong work ethic, earning the nickname "7-11" for his long hours. However, his perceived political inexperience and indecisiveness in the face of mounting crises led to criticism and the less flattering moniker "Old Dumb Tung."
Shortly after he took office, Hong Kong contended with an outbreak of bird flu, marking the first known human cases of the virus. This was followed by the Asian financial crisis, which severely impacted the city's economy. Tung's administration faced criticism for its handling of both crises, and his perceived distrust of the media hindered efforts to improve public perception.
Despite these challenges, Tung was reelected unopposed in 2002 by the pro-Beijing electoral committee. His second term was soon met with another significant crisis: the 2003 SARS outbreak, which resulted in nearly 300 deaths in Hong Kong and further devastated the economy. The government's response to SARS was described as sluggish and unorganized.
Later in 2003, Tung's government proposed an anti-subversion law, known as Article 23 legislation. This move sparked widespread concern among Hong Kong residents who viewed it as a threat to civil liberties. An estimated half a million people participated in a street march to protest the proposed law, which was eventually withdrawn by the government.
In 2004, large protests demanding direct elections for the city's leader and legislature took place. Tung aligned himself with Beijing's rejection of these demands, a stance that contributed to the continuation of annual pro-democracy rallies.
Concerns about Hong Kong's political divisions and Tung's diminishing authority may have been signaled by the scale of these protests. In March 2005, Tung announced his resignation, citing failing health as the reason, though many expressed skepticism given the lack of apparent health issues in the preceding months.
Born in Shanghai in 1937, Tung's family relocated to Hong Kong in 1947. After obtaining a degree in marine engineering from the University of Liverpool, he worked in the United States before returning to Hong Kong in 1969 to join his family's shipping business. Following his departure from public office, Tung established a think tank and remained a supporter of Beijing, particularly during the 2019 protests and the subsequent imposition of a national security law. In 2019, he was among those honored by Chinese leader Xi Jinping for his contributions to the implementation of the "one country, two systems" policy.