Hong Kong Holds State Funeral for Tung Chee-hwa
Hong Kong Holds State Funeral for Tung Chee-hwa
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Key Points
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Tung served as vice-chairman of the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th National Committees of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, in addition to leading Hong Kong during his first and second terms as chief executive.
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When Tung was critically ill, Xi Jinping and other central leaders instructed Beijing’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong to convey their best wishes and called for every possible effort to treat him.
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Shi Taifeng also credited Tung with contributing to China-US relations, saying his legacy extended beyond his work as a pioneer of “one country, two systems.”
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The pallbearer team included Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Xu Qifang, State Council Deputy Secretary General Wang Yonghong and Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal Andrew Cheung Kui-nung.
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At the invitation-only vigil, the altar was decorated with white orchids and pine trees, while wreaths from Tung’s widow, Betty Tung Chiu Hung-ping, and their three children were placed in front; the widow did not attend the vigil, according to the South China Morning Post.
Hong Kong held a state funeral on Sunday for Tung Chee-hwa, the city's first chief executive after its 1997 handover to Chinese rule, who died on September 8 at age 89. Fox 26 Medford reported that political leaders, business figures, and residents gathered to pay tribute through vigils and condolence books across the city.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and former chief executive Leung Chun-ying were among the pallbearers as Tung's flag-draped coffin was carried to Cape Collinson Crematorium. Shanghai News reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior Beijing officials sent condolences, with officials praising Tung as a patriot and pioneer of "one country, two systems."
A Shipping Tycoon Chosen by Beijing
Tung was a former shipping industry leader hand-picked by Beijing to govern Hong Kong after the British handover. Daily Tribunal 24 noted that he became the first chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He served two terms and rose to become vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Xi Jinping's Personal Expression of Concern
When Tung fell critically ill, Shanghai News reported that President Xi Jinping and other central leaders instructed Beijing's Liaison Office to convey their best wishes. Beijing officials ordered every possible effort to treat Tung during his final illness, showing the significance of his role in China-Hong Kong relations.
Beijing Official Praises Tung's National Security Work
Shi Taifeng, a senior Beijing official, highlighted Tung's support for national security and the authorities' handling of the 2019 unrest. Beijing News reported that Shi credited Tung with contributing to China-US relations and described his legacy as extending far beyond Hong Kong governance. Officials emphasized Tung's work as a pioneer of the "one country, two systems" framework.
Ceremony Honors Tung's Humility and Service
The invitation-only vigil featured an altar decorated with white orchids and pine trees. Shanghai News reported that wreaths from Tung's widow, Betty Tung Chiu Hung-ping, and their three children were placed in front of the altar. Residents' tributes emphasized Tung's humility, accessibility, and decades of service to both Hong Kong and China.
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