Condolences poured in from all corners of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Wednesday as the city mourned the death of its former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa, who was remembered for his deep devotion and lasting contribution to the city’s development.

Tung, also a former vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, passed away peacefully at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital late on Tuesday at the age of 89, surrounded by his family.

Born in Shanghai in 1937, Tung spent his childhood in Hong Kong before pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom. He had already established himself in Hong Kong’s corporate scene and held various public sector and advisory roles before becoming the HKSAR’s inaugural chief executive in July 1997.

He steered Hong Kong through its formative years after its return to the motherland and played a key role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle and the Hong Kong Basic Law.

Tung steadied the Hong Kong SAR through the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, and the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in 2003. He also helped fast-track the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, a free-trade agreement signed in June 2003 which has since granted Hong Kong businesses privileged access to the Chinese mainland market, and secured the Individual Visit Scheme from the central government to boost local tourism.

Tung left office in 2005, citing poor health. He was awarded the city’s highest honor — the Grand Bauhinia Medal — in 2006, and a national honorary medal in 2019 that recognized his pivotal work on Hong Kong’s return to the motherland and his contribution to the implementation of the “one country, two systems” policy.

The Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council expressed their heartfelt condolences on Wednesday, saying that Tung’s tenure as chief executive marked a pioneering phase in which the “one country, two systems” policy evolved from a visionary concept into a concrete reality.

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The offices added that he united the authorities and all sectors of society in successfully addressing a series of complex political, economic and social challenges, while firmly safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests.

Tung’s life, the offices said, was one of patriotism, dedication and service. It also quoted Tung’s famous words, “When Hong Kong prospers, the nation prospers; when the nation prospers, Hong Kong prospers even more”, and said this is a vivid portrayal of his lifelong commitment to the country and the city.

In a message of condolence on Wednesday, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR said that Tung grew up during a time of national crisis and was instilled with a patriotic education from an early age, firmly believing that patriotism is a natural duty.

Tung actively took part in consultations on national policies and major issues, contributing ideas and suggestions to the country’s reform and opening-up and its modernization drive, the liaison office said.

Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC and a former chief executive of the SAR, said Tung steered Hong Kong through the establishment of the SAR, earning the high trust of the nation. He also said that Tung had demonstrated foresight in charting the course for the city’s long-term development and actively tackled deep-rooted livelihood issues, describing Tung as “kindhearted and persuasive through reason, a true example for the younger generation”.

Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu noted that Tung’s efforts in steering Hong Kong through the Asian financial crisis also facilitated a robust economic recovery and maintained social prosperity and stability.

While serving as vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, Tung also played a key role in uniting local communities to deepen Hong Kong’s engagement with the international community, 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.

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Executive Council convener Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who served as director of immigration from 1997 to 1998, and as secretary for security from 1998 to 2003, said she was privileged to have worked under Tung. She noted that Tung had tried hard to resolve Hong Kong’s housing shortage, promoted technological development, and expanded the city’s international network.

Legislative Council President Starry Lee Wai-king said Tung had a lifelong dedication to loving the country and the Hong Kong SAR, displaying a deep affection for the nation and home, as well as a strong sense of responsibility.

She added that all legislative members will surely uphold Tung’s conviction for the city and the nation’s progress, continuing to leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages to contribute to the nation.

Local business leaders and industry representatives highlighted Tung’s contributions in safeguarding financial stability, promoting economic development, and strengthening Hong Kong’s trade ties with the mainland.

Hong Kong SAR’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po recalled that at a critical stage in Hong Kong’s economic transition, Tung had insisted on long-term planning, shouldered responsibility, pursued new sources of growth and sought to address complex, long-standing socioeconomic problems.

The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, the city’s largest labor group, cited Tung’s enduring legacy of the job-training programs, retirement security networks and grassroots-welfare systems that he rolled out while in office — measures that left a profound and positive imprint on the city’s broad community of wage earners years later.

Macao SAR Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai said that Tung had long supported exchanges between the two SARs and their integration into the country’s overall development.

Contact the writers at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com