Chan Ho-him and William Langley in Hong Kong Published September 8 2026 Updated September 8 2026 When shipping tycoon Tung Chee-hwa was handpicked by pro-Beijing elites to run Hong Kong as its first Chinese leader after the 1997 handover, he vowed to create "a better tomorrow" for the freewheeling city. But Tung, who died on Tuesday at 89, set the city on a path that led to Hongkongers' deepening divide with Beijing and spawned a desire for greater democracy.

Tung's main mission was implementing Deng Xiaoping's "One Country, Two Systems" mantra—preserving Hong Kong's capitalist system while aligning it with communist China. His early years were marred by the 1997 Asian financial crisis, SARS, and mishandling of a 2003 anti-subversion bill that drew half a million protesters.

Born in Shanghai in 1937, Tung arrived in Hong Kong at 12. His family's Orient Overseas Container Line became a major shipping group before its 2018 acquisition by Cosco. His net worth was $3.2bn, according to Forbes. Tung entered politics before the handover, helping draft the Basic Law. His 2002 Article 23 bill sparked mass protests demanding his resignation, setting off decades of democracy rallies.