US consulate, George H.W. Bush Foundation and former city leader Donald Tsang highlight his pivotal diplomatic legacy
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenMatthew ChengPublished: 11:08pm, 9 Sep 2026Updated: 11:13pm, 9 Sep 2026Hong Kong’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, who died on Tuesday, has been lauded as “one of the greatest movers in China-US relations”, with a foundation established by a former American president’s family praising his “profound contributions” to deepening ties between the two nations.
The US consulate and former city leader Donald Tsang Yam-kuen also praised Tung’s work in strengthening ties between the United States and Hong Kong, paving the way for deeper business links and high-level dialogue in the early years following the 1997 handover.
In response to the South China Morning Post’s queries, the George H.W. Bush Foundation on Wednesday issued a statement extending sincere condolences over Tung’s death and commending his “decades of visionary leadership” in Sino-US relations.
The Bush family highlighted Tung’s warmth, graciousness, magnanimity, optimism, boundless energy and indefatigable spirit.
“Mr Tung will be sorely missed, but his deep and positive impact on the world’s most consequential bilateral relationship will long endure,” the foundation said.
The US Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau noted that Tung “played a pivotal role in strengthening the relationship between the US and Hong Kong during a period of profound transition, both before and after the 1997 handover”.
