HONG KONG — Tung Chee-hwa was widely praised as a man of responsibility and vision as the city mourned the passing of the special administrative region’s first chief executive.

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), Hong Kong’s largest political party, issued a statement mourning his loss and calling him a visionary leader.

“He was a man of passion, responsibility, and foresight,” the DAB said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

The DAB highlighted Tung’s steadfast belief in the close bond between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland. “He often said, ‘When Hong Kong is good, the country is good; when the country is good, Hong Kong is even better’,” reads the statement.

RELATED ARTICLES

• Lee: Tung dedicated his life to serving the nation, HKSAR
• Tributes pour in as HK mourns passing of Tung Chee-hwa
• LegCo: Tung Chee-hwa led smooth establishment of HKSAR
• Tung Chee-hwa honored for advancing US-China cultural ties

The party also noted that Tung received the national honor of “outstanding contributor to ‘One Country, Two Systems’” in September 2019, a recognition of his historic contributions to Hong Kong’s smooth return to the motherland and to the successful implementation of the principle.

Tung served as the first HKSAR chief executive from 1997 to 2005. His tenure was marked by major challenges, including the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and the 2003 SARS outbreak.

The DAB praised his resilience, saying that he “led the SAR government and all sectors of society, with strong support from the central government, to successfully withstand these shocks and help Hong Kong weather the storms.”

Widespread Condolences  

Condolences poured in from across Hong Kong’s political and business sectors.

In a statement, Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing and his son Victor Li, chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings, said they were deeply saddened.

“Mr. Tung Chee-hwa shouldered the heavy responsibility of being the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. His contributions to the implementation of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ in Hong Kong were indelible,” reads the statement.

Henderson Land Development, chaired by Peter Lee Ka-kit and Martin Lee Ka-shing, issued a statement expressing their deep sorrow over the passing of Tung.

"Mr Tung was a man who always had the nation in his heart. He dedicated himself wholeheartedly to serving Hong Kong society, actively promoted the city's development, and made significant contributions," the company said. "He was deeply respected by all sectors of society."

Sun Hung Kai Properties, led by Raymond Kwok Ping-luen and Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong, also paid tribute.

"Mr Tung shouldered the heavy responsibility of being the first Chief Executive, leading Hong Kong's smooth return to the motherland. He pioneered the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework with great determination," the company said in a statement, describing his passing as "the loss of a wise man."

The Hong Kong Real Estate and Construction Association also expressed its “profound condolences,” describing Tung as a pioneer who made significant contributions to the implementation of “one country, two systems” and the Basic Law.

Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGH), one of Hong Kong’s oldest charitable organizations, hailed Tung for his commitment to healthcare, education, social services and youth development.

“His pragmatic approach and profound sense of duty left a lasting inspiration for TWGH,” reads a statement issued by the group.