Tung Chee-hwa: key obituary facts
Is Tung Chee-hwa dead? Yes. Tung Chee-hwa died on September 8, 2026, at age 89.
Cause of death: Tung Chee-hwa's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Tung Chee-hwa known for?
He was a Businessman and politician from Hong Kong, first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1937-2026).
More about Tung Chee-hwa
Born: 7 July 1937.
Place of birth: Shang-hai.
Place of death: Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital.
Gender: male.
Occupation: politician, ship-owner.
Nationality: Republic of China, British Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
Education: University of Liverpool, Chung Wah Middle School.
Awards: Grand Bauhinia Medal, honorary doctor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tatler Most Influential Hong Kong, Outstanding Contributor of One Country, Two Systems.
Father: Tung Chao Yung.
Mother: Gu Lizhen.
Spouse: Betty Tung.
Children: Tung Lieh Sing.
Also known as: CH Tung, C.H. Tung, Tung Chee Hwa.
Tung Chee-hwa, the Hong Kong politician and businessman who became the territory’s first chief executive, died on September 8, 2026, aged 89.
Born in Shanghai on July 7, 1937, he was a shipping magnate’s son who went on to lead the family business and later entered public life in Hong Kong. He served as chief executive from 1997 to 2005, taking office at the time of the territory’s transfer of sovereignty, and afterwards was a vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference from 2005 to 2023.
His career spanned business and politics across Hong Kong’s transition into the post-handover era.