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The death of Tung Chee-hwa on Tuesday marks the end of a chapter in Hong Kong’s modern history. Tung was the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), taking office at the handover from British to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 and leading the city through the early, uncertain years of the “one country, two systems” framework.
For those watching Hong Kong’s subsequent transformation, from the mass protests of 2019 to the introduction of the National Security Law in 2020 and significant changes to the city’s political system,
Tung’s tenure offers an important window into the early challenges of the model and the tensions that emerged around Hong Kong’s autonomy, freedoms and relationship with Beijing.
Tung was not an obvious political figure. Born in Shanghai in 1937 into a prominent shipping family, he studied marine engineering at the University of Liverpool and later worked for General Electric in the United States. He went on to run Orient Overseas, the family shipping company, which faced severe financial difficulties in the 1980s before being rescued with support from Chinese state banks. The experience helped establish Tung’s connections with Beijing well before he entered public life.
His transition into politics came in 1996, when a Beijing-backed selection committee chose him as Hong Kong’s first Chief Executive. His task was unprecedented: to lead the territory through the 1997 handover and establish a new system of government under Chinese sovereignty while maintaining the distinct economic and legal arrangements promised under “one country, two systems”.
The challenges began almost immediately. Within months of taking office, the Asian financial crisis swept through the region, contributing to a sharp fall in Hong Kong property prices. The government was also confronted by an outbreak of avian influenza, including the first known human cases of the disease.
Tung developed a reputation for his demanding work schedule and was nicknamed “7-Eleven” by some Hong Kong residents. But his administration increasingly faced criticism over its handling of the city’s economic and social challenges.
His second term, which began in 2002, proved even more difficult. The SARS outbreak in 2003 killed almost hundreds of people in Hong Kong and exposed weaknesses in the government’s response to the epidemic.
That year also brought one of the most significant political challenges of Tung’s tenure. His government sought to introduce national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law. Critics argued the proposed legislation could undermine civil liberties and political freedoms. On July 1, 2003, around half a million people took to the streets in one of Hong Kong’s largest demonstrations at the time. The government subsequently shelved the legislation.
The episode marked a turning point in Tung’s relationship with the Hong Kong public and contributed to growing questions about his administration’s effectiveness. In December 2004, Chinese President Hu Jintao publicly called on Tung and his government to improve their performance. Tung resigned in March 2005, citing health reasons.
After leaving office, Tung remained active in public affairs and established the China-United States Exchange Foundation, while continuing to hold senior positions within China’s political advisory system. He remained a prominent supporter of Beijing’s policies towards Hong Kong, including during the mass protests in 2019.
Tung died peacefully on September 8, according to his office, surrounded by his family.
His legacy remains contested. To supporters, he was a businessman who helped establish Hong Kong’s post-handover institutions during an exceptionally difficult period. To critics, his administration struggled to navigate the competing expectations of Hong Kong society and Beijing.
Tung’s death offers an opportunity to revisit those early years, and the political experiment he was tasked with steering through its uncertain beginning.
-Asia Media Centre
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