Tributes pour in for former Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa as city mourns his death

Hong Kong’s first leader after its return to Chinese rule, has died. Tung Chee-hwa was 89. His office says he passed away peacefully yesterday (Tuesday, 8 Sep) surrounded by his family. No cause of death has been announced. Tributes have been pouring in for the former shipping tycoon, who became a defining political figure in Hong Kong’s early post-handover years. Chief Executive John Lee described Mr Tung’s contribution as “visionary” and “exceptionally significant”. China’s state news agency Xinhua called him an outstanding contributor to the “One Country, Two Systems” policy, as well as a renowned patriot and close friend of the Communist Party. Mr Tung led Hong Kong from 1997 until his resignation in 2005. He remained an influential elder statesman on the city's affairs, before largely withdrawing from public view in recent years.