PM Lawrence Wong pays tribute to late ex-HK leader Tung Chee Hwa, ‘an old friend of Singapore’

Hong Kong’s first chief executive Tung Chee Hwa died on Sept 8 aged 89.

Published Sep 09, 2026, 09:08 PM

Updated Sep 09, 2026, 09:08 PM

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed condolences for the late Tung Chee Hwa, Hong Kong’s first chief executive and an old friend of Singapore.

Tung led Hong Kong through major challenges like the Asian financial crisis, protests, and the SARS outbreak from 1997 to 2005.

PM Wong highlighted Tung’s role in strengthening Singapore-Hong Kong cooperation and praised his resilience and leadership during a crucial period.

SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sept 9 offered his condolences to the people of Hong Kong and to the family of Tung Chee Hwa, the city’s first chief executive .

The Prime Minister described Tung, who died on Sept 8 aged 89, as “an old friend of Singapore”.

He said in a Facebook post on Sept 9: “Under his leadership, cooperation between Singapore and Hong Kong deepened, helping to lay the foundations for the close ties we enjoy today.”

PM Wong said he had met Tung during a 2019 visit to Hong Kong, and described him as “a leader who thought deeply about the challenges facing our cities and our region, and believed strongly in the importance of cooperation”.

Tung was Hong Kong’s first local leader after the city’s handover from British colonial rule to China in 1997, and he governed the city until he resigned in 2005, citing health problems.

Tung was Beijing’s choice to lead Hong Kong, but his administration faced a number of challenges – including the Asian financial crisis, widespread protests and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

PM Wong referenced the hurdles Tung faced during his tenure, saying in his post: “Mr Tung led Hong Kong through a defining chapter in its history. He steered the city through major challenges... with resilience and a deep sense of responsibility for Hong Kong and its people.”

Former prime minister Goh Chok Tong also paid tribute to Tung in a Facebook post on Sept 9.

He said: “Our friendship goes back to the early 1970s when were both in shipping. Our friendship endured as we found ourselves leading Singapore and Hong Kong, respectively, at around the same time.”

The former PM added that he would remember Tung “as a helpful, sincere, trustworthy friend” whose company he enjoyed during their friendship of more than 50 years.

Tung died peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones, official Hong Kong broadcaster RTHK reported early on Sept 9.

香港首任行政长官董建华于9月8日逝世，享年89岁。

发布于 2026 年 9 月 9 日晚上 9:08

更新于2026年9月9日晚上9:08

新加坡总理黄循财对已故的董建华表示哀悼，董建华是香港首任行政长官，也是新加坡的老朋友。

从 1997 年到 2005 年，董建华带领香港度过了亚洲金融危机、抗议活动和非典疫情等重大挑战。

黄之锋总理强调了董建华在加强新港合作方面发挥的作用，并赞扬他在关键时期展现出的韧性和领导力。

新加坡——9月9日，总理黄循财向香港人民和香港首任行政长官董建华的家人表示慰问。

总理称于9月8日去世、享年89岁的董建华是“新加坡的老朋友”。

他在9月9日的Facebook帖子中写道：“在他的领导下，新加坡和香港之间的合作不断深化，为我们今天享有的紧密关系奠定了基础。”

黄之锋总理表示，他曾在2019年访问香港期间与董建华会面，并称董建华是“一位对我们城市和地区面临的挑战进行深入思考，并坚信合作重要性的领导人”。

董建华是香港于1997年从英国殖民统治回归中国后的首位本地领导人，他一直执政到2005年因健康问题辞职为止。

董建华是北京选择领导香港的人选，但他的政府面临诸多挑战，包括亚洲金融危机、大规模抗议活动和严重急性呼吸综合征（SARS）疫情。

黄之锋总理在帖子中提及董建华任职期间所面临的种种挑战，称：“董建华先生带领香港走过了历史上一个具有决定性意义的篇章。他以坚韧不拔的精神和对香港及其市民的深切责任感，带领香港克服了重大挑战。”

前总理吴作栋也于9月9日在脸书上发文悼念董建华。

他说：“我们的友谊可以追溯到上世纪70年代初，当时我们都在航运业工作。后来，我们分别在同一时期领导新加坡和香港的业务，我们的友谊也因此得以延续。”

这位前总理还表示，他将永远铭记董建华“是一位乐于助人、真诚可靠、值得信赖的朋友”，在他们超过50年的友谊中，他一直很享受与董建华相处的时光。

据香港电台9月9日早间报道，董建华在亲人的陪伴下安详离世。