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Tung Chee-hwa
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Tung Chee-hwa

(董建華)

Tung Chee-hwa
Tung Chee-hwa
董建華
Tung Chee-hwa was a shipping tycoon who served as Hong Kong’s first chief executive from 1997 to 2005. He went on to become an elder statesman and key backchannel envoy between China and the US before passing away in 2026 at age 89.
Born
July 7, 1937
Died
September 8, 2026
The late Tung Chee-hwa at the first annual China-United States Exchange Foundation’s conference at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on December 3, 2014. Photo: Nora Tam
Diplomacy

Opinion | How Hong Kong can keep the talking going when US-China officials don’t

Hong Kong can’t set the terms of the contest, but with Track 1.5 diplomacy, it can decide if it is the room in which competition is managed.

Hong Kong

Editorial | Tung’s legacy helps lay foundations for better tomorrows

Hong Kong politics

‘His love for Hong Kong was profound’: Tung Chee-hwa honoured at state funeral

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Hong Kong politics

Video | Tung Chee-hwa honoured with state funeral

The funeral followed a vigil held the previous day at the Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point, which drew dozens of political and business heavyweights who paid their respects to the late leader.

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Hong Kong

‘Staunch patriot, close friend’: Beijing official hails Tung Chee-hwa’s legacy

‘He always placed national interests first and throughout his life upheld the belief that patriotism is a natural conviction,’ Shi Taifeng says in eulogy.

Hong Kong

Xi sends condolences as Hong Kong holds state funeral for Tung Chee-hwa

President Xi Jinping and other top Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang, pay tribute after funeral attended by 200 members of city’s establishment and family.

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Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s political, business elite pay final respects to Tung Chee-hwa

Beijing leaders send wreaths ahead of former chief executive’s state funeral as residents stream into community centres to sign condolence books.

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A portrait of Tung Chee-hwa is displayed in the funeral hall. Photo: Kit Lai
Wreaths from Tung Chee-hwa’s widow, Betty, and their three children are placed in front of the altar. Photo: Handout
Chief Executive John Lee (left) leaves the funeral parlour. Photo: Kit Lai
Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying (centre) arrives at the funeral hall. Photo: Kit Lai
Former leaders Carrie Lam (left) and Donald Tsang (right) also attended. Photo: Kit Lai
Hong Kong

Top Hong Kong officials, business leaders mourn Tung Chee-hwa – as it happened

Vigil at Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point attended by city’s top leaders, with state funeral to be held on Sunday.

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Hong Kong

Patriot dedicated to Hong Kong: business heavyweights remember Tung Chee-hwa

The South China Morning Post shares reflections from people who knew Hong Kong’s first chief executive.

Hong Kong society

Friend, leader, mentor: how political veterans remember Tung Chee-hwa

Figures from Hong Kong and beyond reflect on Tung as a friend, city leader and elder statesman.

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Tung Chee-hwa was a shipping tycoon who went on to become Hong Kong’s first chief executive. Photo: Ricky Chung
Jack Ma

‘In hard times, your honour shines’: Jack Ma pays tribute to Tung Chee-hwa

Alibaba Group co-founder looks back on his ties to Hong Kong’s first chief executive, spanning business and philanthropy.

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Jack Ma (right) has shared his own tribute to the late Tung Chee-hwa. Photo: Sam Tsang
SCMP

A man who built bridges over walls: SCMP’s Tammy Tam on Tung Chee-hwa

SCMP publisher recalls Tung as ‘humble and unpretentious personality’ who helped foster ties between China and the United States.

Hong Kong

Hongkongers pay tribute to late leader Tung Chee-hwa at community halls

Residents lay flowers and leave messages in condolence books ahead of vigil on Saturday and state funeral on Sunday.

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Hong Kong politics

Exclusive | Blanket of security planned for state funeral of Tung Chee-hwa in Hong Kong

Beijing officials Shi Taifeng, Wang Dongfeng and Xia Baolong to arrive on Saturday, but memorial service will be invitation-only, sources say.

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Tung Chee-hwa died on September 8, aged 89. He will be accorded a state funeral for his service as a deputy national-level leader and his contributions to the “one country, two systems” governing framework. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
Hong Kong racing

Sunday’s Sha Tin races cancelled due to state funeral for Tung Chee-hwa

The Jockey Club said the weekend’s 10-event card would not go ahead as “a mark of respect” for the city’s first chief executive.

Sunday’s Sha Tin race meeting has been cancelled. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong politics

Top Chinese official leads 87-member committee for Tung Chee-hwa state funeral

Shi Taifeng, Politburo member and No 1 vice-chairman of CPPCC, is funeral committee head, with vigil on Saturday and public memorial service on Sunday.

Hong Kong society

Foundation collects tributes to Hong Kong’s Tung Chee-hwa for online memorial

China-United States Exchange Foundation has collected more than 100 reflections on Tung from political and business heavyweights.

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Mainland China

Tung Chee-hwa remembered for foresight in developing Hong Kong’s tech sector

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also praises Tung for his ‘steady and visionary leadership’ in a condolence letter to Hong Kong.

Tung Chee-hwa in 2003. Photo: Robert Ng
Hong Kong

State funeral for Hong Kong’s first chief executive Tung Chee-hwa set for September 20

State leaders and central government officials expected to join funeral committee for Tung, source says.

Hong Kong politics

As I see it | Tung Chee-hwa had a clear vision for Hong Kong

The city’s first post-handover leader had strategic instincts to spare, but not the tactical and political skills needed for execution.

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Alibaba

Alibaba mourns former independent director Tung Chee-hwa, hails his global vision

E-commerce giant pays tribute to Hong Kong’s first leader for helping the company stay rooted in country while expanding internationally.

Alibaba has mourned the death of former independent director Tung Chee-hwa, hailing his global perspective and contribution to the company’s development. Photo: Sam Tsang
Mainland China

Mainland Chinese pay tribute to Tung Chee-hwa for opening door to Hong Kong

Solo-travel scheme introduced in 2003 opened city to millions, shaping unforgettable memories for generation of mainland visitors.

Tung Chee-hwa played a key role in getting the central government to approve the solo-travel scheme by incorporating it into the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement deal. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Video | Tung Chee-hwa: Hong Kong remembers its first chief executive

The late shipping tycoon steered the city through a stormy post-handover era of economic and public health crises before helping to improve US-China ties.

Hong Kong politics

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

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

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Hong Kong

Editorial | Tung’s legacy continues to inspire city under ‘one country, two systems’

Hong Kong’s first chief executive navigated the uncharted waters of an unprecedented governance formula and helped lay the foundations of the city’s future success.

Hong Kong’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, died on Tuesday. Photo: Antony Dickson
Hong Kong

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

Former business magnate faced difficult crisis during tenure, but officials and former colleagues praise his compassion and ‘brave leadership’.

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

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

US consulate, the George H.W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations and former city leader Donald Tsang highlight his pivotal diplomatic legacy.

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Hong Kong society

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

People who worked closely with Tung praise him as ‘kind-hearted’, ‘exceptionally hard-working’ and inspired others to take up public office.

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