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Tung Chee-Hwa, Hong Kong's First Post-Colonial Leader, Dies at Age 89

His tenure was marked by the Asian financial crisis, Sars and mass protests, and he later led major China-focused civic groups.

  • On Tuesday, Hong Kong's first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, died at age 89, with his office confirming he passed away peacefully surrounded by family members.
  • Born in Shanghai in 1937, Tung led the shipping firm Orient Overseas for 14 years before a 400-member committee elected him with 320 votes in 1997.
  • His tenure faced the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2003 Sars outbreak; a July 1, 2003 mass protest forced Tung to withdraw a controversial national security Bill.
  • Tung resigned in 2005 citing health concerns, later serving 18 years as vice-chairman of the Political Consultative Conference and founding the China-United States Exchange Foundation.
  • Following years of declining health since 2021 surgery, Tung is survived by his wife, Betty Chiu, and three children; his net worth was US$3.2 billion.
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Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's first post-colonial leader, dies at age 89

Hong Kong’s first post-handover leader, Tung Chee-hwa, has died at age 89. His office announced that Tung passed away peacefully on Tuesday with his family present.

·New York, United States
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South China Morning Post broke the news in Hong Kong, Hong Kong on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
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