Hong Kong is mourning the loss of Tung Chee-hwa, the bridge-building first post-colonial leader of the city. Prof Herman Hu recalls the man and his achievements, which were many
THE LATE TUNG CHEE-HWA and my late father, Mr. Hu Fa-kwong, were lifelong friends bound by their shared Shanghainese heritage. Our families gathered regularly, giving me a close look at a man who was a true patriot with a deep love for his country, a gentle and responsible nature, and a visionary mind.
His devotion to both China and Hong Kong was absolute; he personally attended to every detail, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to the city. His contributions are undeniable.
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A HONG KONG REFORMER
Upon taking office as Hong Kong’s first Chief Executive, Mr. Tung spearheaded numerous far-reaching institutional reforms, determined to unlock long-term development opportunities for the city.
In governance, he pushed through political resistance to streamline a complex administrative structure. He abolished the Urban and Regional Councils, introduced the Principal Officials Accountability System, and systematically dismantled the structural inefficiencies inherited from the British colonial era.
In economic and social policy, he implemented the Mandatory Provident Fund scheme and established a ten-year housing blueprint.
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FORWARD-LOOKING
With remarkable foresight, he also proposed developing a “Chinese Medicine Port,” constructed Cyberport and the Hong Kong Science Park, and founded the Innovation and Technology Commission alongside a HK$5 billion Innovation and Technology Fund.
These measures shattered the myth of colonial-era “laissez-faire” governance, laying the groundwork for a grand, state-led ecosystem supporting high-tech industries.
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EXPANDED EDUCATION
Mr. Tung also demonstrated extraordinary insight in education. He vigorously promoted mother-tongue teaching and the “two written languages and three spoken languages” policy.
In 2000, he pioneered the ambitious “3-3-4” academic system (three years of general secondary education, then three years of focus on exam subjects, and then four years of university). By introducing associate degrees, he successfully dismantled the elitist, “survival of the fittest” educational model of the colonial era, popularizing tertiary education and fostering innovative thinking in the next generation.
Looking back today, Hong Kong’s world-leading higher education enrollment rate and its internationally integrated academic system are the fruits of the solid foundation Mr. Tung laid—navigating immense challenges and planting the seeds of change against the wind.
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HARD TIMES
Regrettably, these grand, long-term development plans met severe headwinds at the start. The Asian financial crisis crippled Hong Kong’s economy, opportunistic political factions sowed discord, and senior civil servants offered passive resistance, making these reforms incredibly difficult to execute. Yet even then, the future success of his vision was clear.
Many people associate Mr. Tung with a housing policy to build 85,000 units a year. During a volatile financial period, he was criticized for pushing a strategy that might further lower home prices during a downturn.
But my father, Hu Fa-kuang—who served on the Housing Authority for 18 years—noted that it was actually a legacy plan from the British colonial administration, which Tung Chee-hwa simply executed and announced in his inaugural 1997 Policy Address. The underlying land and housing blueprints had already been drawn up during the final years of British rule, which estimated an annual demand of roughly 80,000 units.
Upon taking office, Mr. Tung merely formalized these internal projections into his official policy target of “no less than 85,000 units”.
Ultimately, the policy was less of a radical new vision and more of a continuity of colonial planning that unfortunately collided with the Asian financial crisis.
Tung Chee-hwa was a likeable, hardworking leader, and will be remembered for his important contribution to Hong Kong’s governance at a challenging time in history
Professor Herman Hu is Hong Kong Deputy to the National People’s Congress, and Past President of the Hong Kong Professional and Senior Executives Association.
He is also a key figure in the “Friday” news project from Friday Culture Ltd. Click here to read more of his articles.
The above obituary makes reference to Hu Fa-kuang. Click here to read his story.