Hong Kong held a funeral for Tung Chee-hwa, the territory's first chief executive after the 1997 handover, who died this month aged 89. His casket, draped in the Chinese flag, was taken to a crematorium while hundreds of wreaths and messages of condolence were displayed. Tung's eight-year tenure was marked by crises — including the Asian financial shock and SARS — and ended with his 2005 resignation amid protests. International figures and locals alike reflected on his contested but influential legacy.
Hong Kong Mourns Tung Chee-hwa: Funeral Marks End of an Era
The hearse carrying Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's first leader after the city's handover from Britain to China in 1997, leaves North Point Funeral Home in Hong Kong on September 20, 2026. (Peter PARKS)
Hong Kong officials, business leaders and members of the public gathered on Sunday to pay their respects at the funeral of Tung Chee-hwa, the city's first chief executive after the 1997 handover. Tung died earlier this month at the age of 89.
Tung, a former shipping magnate chosen by Beijing to lead the territory after British rule ended, presided over an often turbulent eight-year administration before resigning in 2005 amid widespread protests. His tenure was marked by major economic and public-health crises, including the Asian financial shock, the deadly SARS epidemic and record unemployment.
On Sunday his casket, draped in the Chinese national flag, was taken from the Hong Kong Funeral Home to a crematorium. A large portrait of Tung — smiling and wearing his characteristic crew cut — stood in the memorial hall, surrounded by white orchids placed as tokens of respect. Hundreds of wreaths sent by government officials and business figures lined the street outside the hall.
Tributes and Contested Legacy
A funeral committee described Tung as a 'renowned patriot' and a 'close friend of the Communist Party.' Among the messages of condolence was a note from his alma mater, the University of Liverpool, which said: 'We remember him with great gratitude and respect.'
Max Baucus, former U.S. ambassador to China and a longtime friend, said Tung believed in the importance of people-to-people diplomacy to preserve peace between nations.
Ordinary residents also attended to pay their respects. Cheung Kwok-lik, an 89-year-old retired renovation worker, said he had travelled an hour by bus to attend and recalled the difficulties Tung's administration faced. Kiki Ho, a 68-year-old resident, described feeling 'sorrowful and emotional' and suggested that Tung was a well-meaning, experienced figure who struggled with the complexities of politics.
Legacy
Tung is remembered as a polarising but consequential figure whose policies helped shape Hong Kong's post-handover trajectory and who acted for decades as a bridge between Beijing, Hong Kong and foreign capitals including Washington. He is survived by his wife, Betty Chiu, their two sons and a daughter.
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