Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s first chief executive after the handover from British to Chinese rule, has died at the age of 89. His office confirmed that he passed away peacefully in the presence of his family on Tuesday. Tung was a prominent shipping magnate who was chosen in 1997 by a pro-Beijing committee to lead the territory following the end of British colonial administration. Many in Beijing saw him as a loyal ally who would support the Communist Party’s policies. His family’s shipping company, Orient Overseas Container Line, was bailed out by Chinese state banks during a global economic downturn in the 1980s. Tung was known for his strong work ethic, earning the nickname “7-11” for working long hours, but his political leadership was often questioned. He was criticized for his handling of major crises, such as the bird flu outbreak and the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s. His reluctance to engage with the media and several policy missteps led to the less complimentary nickname “Old Dumb Tung.” Despite these challenges, he was reelected unopposed in 2002 by the pro-Beijing electoral committee. In 2003, Hong Kong faced another major crisis when the SARS virus struck, killing nearly 300 people and severely damaging the economy. Tung’s government was criticized for its slow and ineffective response. That same year, he proposed controversial legislation known as Article 23, which aimed to criminalize acts deemed subversive. The proposal sparked massive public protests, and the government eventually abandoned the bill. In 2004, Hong Kongers again took to the streets, demanding direct elections for their leader and legislature. Tung aligned with Beijing’s position, rejecting the demands, and the protest became an annual event for pro-democracy activists. Tung stepped down as chief executive in 2005, citing poor health as the reason. However, many were skeptical, as no visible health issues had been reported prior to his resignation. Born in Shanghai in 1937, Tung moved to Hong Kong in 1947, just before the Communist Party took control of mainland China. After earning a degree in marine engineering from the University of Liverpool, he worked in the U.S. before returning to Hong Kong in 1969. After leaving office, he founded a think tank and remained a staunch supporter of Beijing, even during the 2019 pro-democracy protests and the subsequent imposition of a national security law. In 2019, he was honored with a national medal by Chinese President Xi Jinping for his role in promoting the “one country, two systems” policy. Following the implementation of the security law in 2020, large-scale protests that had once challenged his leadership largely disappeared, and Tung has since remained largely out of the public eye.