A portrait of the late Mr. Tung Chee-hwa. /Xinhua

11-09-2026

Upon learning the heartbreaking news of Mr. Tung Chee-hwa’s passing on the evening of 8 September, I was overcome with profound grief, as if my heart was cut by a knife. Bits and pieces of the past emerged, and the squeezing memories left me at a loss. Amidst the uncertainty regarding the schedule for his memorial service, I found solace in thinking of the Our Hong Kong Foundation (OHKF), which was founded by Mr. Tung. It is a beautiful garden he left for Hong Kong and a team with whom I am willing to work with. I place my tribute within this garden, joining the OHKF in a solemn river of remembrance to honor Mr. Tung’s spirit in heaven.

I recall a day shortly after New Year’s Day in 1993, when Zhang Junsheng, then deputy director of the Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong Branch, led us to visit Mr. Tung. During the visit, Mr. Tung and Deputy Director Zhang went to a small reception room for a talk. They were discussing crucial matters regarding the promotion of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, while I waited quietly outside as my rank was not appropriate for such discussions. Yet, as he saw us off, Mr. Tung said to me in Mandarin, “Deputy Director Zhang tells me you are excellent at writing reports. Here in Hong Kong, we use traditional Chinese characters. Are you getting used to it?” Today, those words of thoughtful concern echo in my ears once more. In particular, Mr. Tung’s sincere smile made me feel, in that instant, that Hong Kong was no longer a strange land.

One stormy afternoon in the summer of 1995, I delivered documents to Mr. Tung. Just as I was preparing to leave, he patted me on the shoulder and asked me to wait a moment. He then handed me a large black umbrella. Looking up at him, frail as I was at that time, I saw a smile as kind and benevolent as that of a family member. Standing in the pouring rain waiting for a taxi, I felt none of the loneliness of being in a strange place.

When the SARS epidemic struck in 2003, voices predicting doom and gloom were rife among the public. We planned to present a “Zhaojin Stone” (a stone symbolizing auspiciousness and prosperity) to Hong Kong, praying for divine protection for the city’s residents—that they might remain safe and healthy and triumph over SARS. When I visited Mr. Tung’s office, I noticed his hair had turned gray, yet his smile remained like winter sunshine, radiating even greater warmth amidst the chilling “cold front” of the SARS outbreak. He said, “I am grateful for the care and support the Zhaoyuan City Government of Shandong Province has shown to Hong Kong. Hong Kong will certainly remain safe and secure.” As he spoke, his smile was confident and full of strength.

That year, Mr. Tung facilitated the signing of CEPA, laying a cornerstone for Hong Kong’s continued prosperity. Under his leadership, Hong Kong and the mainland fostered a deeper mutual understanding.

In the autumn of 2005, a colleague from Shanghai and I visited Mr. Tung, who had stepped down as chief executive, to report on my registration of the International Mayors Communication Centre (IMCC) in Hong Kong. He had more gray hair, yet he appeared much more relaxed. He offered me a lot of guidance, such as how to leverage Hong Kong’s strengths in talent and language to organize more people-to-people exchanges with nations around the world. I recall him saying, “All conflicts in the world can be resolved through communication,” which aligns perfectly with his philosophy that “understanding can overcome differences.” We spoke for more than 30 minutes, and once again, I was struck by Mr. Tung’s warm, genial smile, which was truly unique and iconic.

Throughout his life, Mr. Tung remained dedicated to the aspiration of “serving the country and serving Hong Kong.” He famously remarked, “If Hong Kong is good, the nation is good; if the nation is good, Hong Kong will be even better.” After stepping down as chief executive, he vigorously promoted people-to-people diplomacy and the dissemination of Chinese culture. Under his guidance, the IMCC has, for over two decades, conscientiously embraced the mission of non-governmental diplomacy, using Hong Kong’s voice to share the magnificent story of China’s sustainable development with people in cities across the globe.

The OHKF stands as a wonderful legacy Mr. Tung left to Hong Kong. The IMCC looks forward to collaborating with the OHKF and upholding Mr. Tung’s vision, working to transform Hong Kong, the “Pearl of the Orient,” into the world’s finest city of the future.

May Mr. Tung rest in peace! His historic contributions will be remembered forever!

Founder,

International Mayors Communication Centre