Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's first Chief Executive, passes away at 89

Tung Chee-hwa, the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and former Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, has passed away at the age of 89. Following his death on September 8, a state-level funeral service was held at the Hong Kong Funeral Home.

Reflections on his leadership highlight his departure from the ‘positive non-interventionism’ model of the former British administration. Tung advocated for an active government to drive economic diversification, particularly in technology and high-value industries, and sought to strengthen Hong Kong's economic ties with mainland China. While many of his pioneering policies, such as housing initiatives and integration with the Pearl River Delta, faced significant opposition from the social elite and civil servants during his tenure, his governance philosophies have since become widely accepted as guiding principles for the region.

Audrey Eu, a founding member of the Civic Party, paid tribute to Tung, recalling a personal encounter where he expressed a desire to listen to all opinions, regardless of the source, provided they benefited the country and Hong Kong. Eu praised his openness to diverse perspectives and his broad-mindedness.