Tung Chee-hwa hailed as visionary leader who helped build US-China relations
Hong Kong’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, who died on Tuesday, has been lauded as “one of the greatest movers in China-US relations”, with a foundation established by a former American president’s family praising his “profound contributions” to deepening ties between the two nations. The US consulate and former city leader Donald Tsang Yam-kuen also praised Tung’s work in strengthening…
Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's inaugural chief executive, has been hailed as a visionary leader who significantly bolstered US-China relations, according to the George H.W. Bush Foundation and the US Consulate in Hong Kong and Macau. The foundation extolled Tung's "profound contributions" and "deep and positive impact" on the critical bilateral relationship, while the consulate emphasized his pivotal role in enhancing ties between the US and Hong Kong, particularly during the city's transition following the 1997 handover.
Former city leader Donald Tsang Yam-kuen echoed these sentiments, praising Tung's work in forging strategic alliances and promoting high-level dialogue.
Tung's influence spanned across various sectors, including business, academia, civil society, and journalism. He cultivated strong relationships with several former American presidents and served as the first and only chief executive to meet a sitting US leader in Washington. Tung's connections with American political and business circles were instrumental in opening new opportunities for bilateral trade and fostering official exchanges between Hong Kong and the US.
His leadership also played a crucial role in Beijing's successful bid to host the 2008 Olympics, as he encouraged the US to maintain a neutral stance during the bid process.
Three years after leaving office, Tung established the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), a Hong Kong-based non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between Beijing and Washington. Through the foundation, Tung engaged global figures like Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, proposing measures that later influenced US policy on China, such as 10-year multiple-entry travel visas for Americans and the creation of intellectual property courts.
His deep understanding of America, gained from early formative years spent working in the country, laid the foundation for the extensive networks he later developed, ultimately making him one of the greatest movers in China-US relations.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
