Tung Chee-hwa had a clear vision for Hong Kong

The death of Hong Kong's first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, at age 89 has reignited discussions about his legacy. Two contrasting assessments offer insight into Tung's vision and the challenges he faced in the post-handover era. Political scientist Sonny Lo Shiu-hing argues that Tung was a hapless administrator overwhelmed by crisis, while former Central Policy Unit head Lau Siu-kai rates him highly, considering him a visionary.

Lo's 2001 book, Governing Hong Kong: Legitimacy, Communication and Political Decay, highlights institutional deterioration, weakened administrative capacity, and the erosion of the once-vaunted civil service under Tung's leadership. Tung's administration depended on performance-based credibility, which was tested when the Asian financial crisis hit, followed by a property market collapse.

Despite these setbacks, Tung pushed for economic diversification and closer ties with mainland China. His efforts to move beyond the colonial-era philosophy of "positive non-intervention" and implement a more interventionist government were prescient. However, his administration faced challenges such as the pan-democrats and entrenched business interests.

Tung's resignation in 2004, ostensibly due to health reasons, was seen as a necessary step in the face of the city's immense challenges. His vision for Hong Kong's future was clear, but the execution proved to be a significant challenge in an unprecedented and turbulent environment.