HONG KONG: Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Wednesday (Sept 9) expressed sorrow at the passing of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s first chief executive Tung Chee-hwa (pic), praising Tung’s “significant contributions” and saying he had “dedicated his life to serving the country and the Hong Kong SAR”.
He said Tung, who died on Tuesday (Sept 8) night at the age of 89 and served as the SAR’s first chief executive from 1997 to 2005, had successfully steered Hong Kong through the Asian financial crisis and led its residents to tackle a host of challenges. These collective efforts ultimately facilitated a robust economic recovery and maintained social prosperity and stability.
“His distinguished leadership rendered exemplary contributions to the smooth process of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, as well as the implementation of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and the Basic Law,” he said.
With visionary foresight, Lee added, Tung instituted mechanisms to promote economic and trade ties and coordinated development between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, laying a solid foundation for Hong Kong’s enduring competitiveness.
After stepping down as chief executive in 2005, Tung went on to serve as vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference – the nation’s top political advisory body. In this capacity, Lee said Tung continued to provide his counsel at the national level and played a key role in uniting local communities to deepen Hong Kong’s engagement with the international community, thereby elevating the city’s role and influence on the global stage.
“His lifelong and monumental contributions to Hong Kong will forever be etched on our memory,” Lee said. - China Daily/ANN
