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Matthew Cheng

Hong Kong authorities are coordinating a state funeral for the city’s first chief executive, the late Tung Chee-hwa, the South China Morning Post has learned, honouring his legacy as a deputy national-level leader and his contributions to the “one country, two systems” framework.
A source familiar with the matter said “preparations were under way” and were being coordinated by the city government after Tung’s death on Tuesday at the age of 89.
Responding to queries from the SCMP, the government’s Administration Wing said on Thursday that it would announce relevant arrangements in due course.
Since the 1997 handover, only two prominent local figures have been granted state funerals: industrialist Ann Tse-kai in 2000 and tycoon Henry Fok Ying-tung in 2006. Both held the rank of vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a position that Tung also held.
Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies think tank, said that as a deputy leader at the national level, Tung could have a funeral comparable to Fok’s.
He expected central government officials to be appointed to a funeral committee and attend the service for Tung, with state leaders sending wreaths.
Veteran China watcher Johnny Lau Yui-siu also believed Tung would be accorded a state funeral in line with convention. He said the funeral’s arrangements and scale could be similar to those of Ann and Fok, and would be coordinated by the central government.


He noted that Tung’s status as the city’s first chief executive gave him special standing in Beijing, meaning his funeral could be greater in scale than past state funerals of local figures.
“Ann and Fok were not [Hong Kong] government leaders, whereas Beijing highly recognised Tung’s contributions to one country, two systems and his work,” he said.
“Beijing spoke highly of Tung, so we have to observe whether [Beijing] will consider these factors.”
The state funerals of Ann and Fok were coordinated by the central government, with committees chaired by a CPPCC vice-chairman. They were attended by senior mainland officials, including the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), with coffins draped in the national flag and state leaders laying wreaths in tribute.
Fok’s funeral in 2006 was attended by then CPPCC vice-chairman Wang Zhongyu, then HKMAO director Liao Hui, and then head of the United Front Work Department Liu Yandong.
Both Ann and Fok were appointed CPPCC vice-chairmen in 1993.
Ann, a textile entrepreneur, was regarded as one of a handful of capitalists who had the ear of Chinese President Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980s, and held key positions in major bodies Beijing formed to prepare for the handover.

Fok was widely seen as Beijing’s most trusted person in the city and played a vital role in China’s reform drive through major investments on the mainland.
Alibaba Group on Friday mourned the death of Tung, who served as an independent director of the company from 2014 to 2022.
“During his tenure, his invaluable contributions and full support played a vital role in Alibaba’s development. His global perspective helped Alibaba stay rooted in China while expanding globally,” the e-commerce company, which owns SCMP, said.
The company described Tung as a “visionary leader, steadfast patriot and also an elder of noble character, humility and kindness”, who led Hong Kong with courage and foresight and dedicated himself to promoting exchanges, dialogue and mutual understanding between China and the world.
Tung joined Alibaba Group’s board as an independent director shortly after the company’s initial public offering in New York in 2014. At the time, Alibaba cited his extensive experience as a business and government leader, as well as his long record of strengthening ties between China and the United States, as reasons for inviting him to join the board.
A day earlier, Adriel Chan, chairman of Hang Lung Group and subsidiary Hang Lung Properties, paid tribute to Tung for his lifelong contribution to the city and the country, for facilitating US-China relations and for leading Hong Kong out of several rounds of difficult times.
“Mr Tung was a steadfast and resolute leader dedicated to the people and deeply committed to Hong Kong; his spirit and exemplary character will always remain in the hearts of Hong Kong people,” he said.
The Hong Kong Shipowners Association, which he chaired in the 1970s, praised his foundational contribution to the maritime sector.
Its chairman Richard Hext said Tung helped build shipping companies that later became giants in the industry, adding that his “energy, wisdom and determination” earned wide recognition when he became chief executive.
“We are very grateful for his dedication to the shipping industry, to Hong Kong, and to the nation, which greatly changed our lives for the better,” Hext said.
Shipping firm OOCL - which was founded by Tung’s father and later acquired by China’s state-owned Cosco Shipping in 2018 - described him as a “renowned shipping pioneer and trailblazer” with a global vision and a deep sense of patriotism.
“Mr Tung assumed leadership at a critical moment and guided OOCL through a major restructuring, restoring its foundations for future development,” the statement said.
“[He] recognised the opportunities of a changing era and worked closely with industry peers to promote the deeper integration of Chinese shipping into global trade, helping to chart the course for the industry’s development.”
Fred Lam Tin-fuk, chairman of the Airport Authority, said Tung strengthened Hong Kong’s position as a global aviation hub and praised his devotion to serving the nation and Hong Kong.
The authority said Tung strongly believed air transport played a vital role in driving Hong Kong’s economic and social progress, and that his support laid a strong foundation for the growth of the city’s aviation industry.
Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited also praised Tung for laying the groundwork for the city’s governance and the development of its innovation and technology sector.


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Hong Kong’s first chief executive Tung Chee-hwa honoured with state funeral

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Tung Chee-hwa

Hong Kong’s first leader Tung Chee-hwa to be honoured with state funeral

Tung Chee-hwa poses for a portrait taken at the Office of Former Chief Executives in Mid-Levels in 2017. Photo: Antony Dickson

Tung Chee-hwa (right) leads the pallbearers carrying Henry Fok’s coffin during the property tycoon’s funeral in 2006. Photo: Handout 

The late Tung Chee-hwa was chairman of shipping giant OOCL before taking office as Hong Kong’s chief executive in 1997. Photo: Ricky Chung.

Tributes flow in as Hong Kong mourns Tung Chee-hwa, pioneering first leader

Tung Chee-hwa poses for a portrait at the Office of Former Chief Executives in Mid-Levels in June 2017. Photo: Antony Dickson

Former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa (left) gives his wife Betty Tung Chiu a kiss during the third anniversary celebrations of Our Hong Kong Foundation in 2017. Photo: Felix Wong

Tung bows to his supporters after delivering a re-election victory speech at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on March 12, 2002. Photo: Dustin Shum

Tung presides over the swearing-in of members of the Legislative Council on July 1, 1997. Photo: Antony Dickson

Tung meets former US President Bill Clinton in the White House in April 2000. Photo: Handout

Tung Chee-hwa hailed as visionary leader who helped build US-China relations

President George W. Bush, right, greets Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on July 11, 2001. Photo: AP

Tung Chee-Hwa accompanies US President Bill Clinton into Government House for talks and a banquet shortly after Clinton’s arrival in Hong Kong on July 2, 1998. Photo: AFP

President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with Microsoft founder Bill Gates during the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in Boao on the southern Chinese resort island of Hainan on April 8, 2013. Photo: AFP

Tung Chee-hwa remembered as kind, approachable Hong Kong leader

Tung Chee-hwa (centre) is flanked by then-financial secretary-designate Antony Leung (left) and then-chief secretary Donald Tsang in 2001. Photo: Robert Ng

Tung Chee-hwa with Bernard Chan at a cultural event in 2013. Photo: Nora Tam

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City government coordinating arrangements to honour Tung as deputy national-level leader and his contributions to ‘one country, two systems’ framework


City government coordinating arrangements to honour Tung as deputy national-level leader and his contributions to ‘one country, two systems’ framework.


Hong Kong’s first leader Tung Chee-hwa to be honoured with state funeral

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}City government coordinating arrangements to honour Tung as deputy national-level leader and his contributions to ‘one country, two systems’ framework

City government coordinating arrangements to honour Tung as deputy national-level leader and his contributions to ‘one country, two systems’ framework