Story perspectives

John Lee Serves Pallbearer at Tung Chee-hwa Funeral

By Drooid · Sep 20, 2026, 2:24 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Tung Chee-hwa State Funeral

Hong Kong held a state funeral for former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa on September 20, 2026.
About 200 guests attended, including Politburo member Shi Taifeng and director Xia Baolong.
Chief Executive John Lee served as a pallbearer for Tung’s flag-draped casket.
Tung died on September 8, 2026 at age 89 after serving as chief executive from 1997 to 2005.
After resigning, he became vice-chairman of the Political Consultative Conference and was praised as a close Party friend.

Summary

Tung Builds Diplomatic Bridges

Tung created the China-US Exchange Foundation in 2008 to foster Beijing-Washington dialogue.
He founded Our Hong Kong Foundation in 2014, a think tank on economic/social challenges.
Former United States ambassador Max Baucus called Tung a close friend and praised his diplomacy.
British and United States consulates called Tung a bridge linking Beijing, Hong Kong and Washington.
All three of Tung’s children hold American passports, born in the United States.

History

Historical Context

The 1997 Hong Kong handover, executed on July 1, 1997, transferred sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China, establishing the SAR. Chief Executive-designate Tung Chee-hwa, then a senior businessman, led the inaugural administration, and the ceremony attracted roughly 1.5 million onlookers from across the territory. Decades later, Tung’s 2008 China-US Exchange Foundation and 2014 Our Hong Kong Foundation echo the handover’s promise of dialogue between Beijing, London, and Washington. The 2026 state funeral, attended by Politburo member Shi Taifeng and former U.S. ambassador Max Baucus, underscores how the 1997 transition still shapes Hong Kong’s diplomatic bridge.

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Tung Chee-hwa State Funeral

Hong Kong held a state funeral for former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa on September 20, 2026.
About 200 guests attended, including Politburo member Shi Taifeng and director Xia Baolong.
Chief Executive John Lee served as a pallbearer for Tung’s flag-draped casket.
Tung died on September 8, 2026 at age 89 after serving as chief executive from 1997 to 2005.
After resigning, he became vice-chairman of the Political Consultative Conference and was praised as a close Party friend.

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