It is with profound sorrow that the Board of Governors of the China-United States Exchange Foundation mourns the passing of our Founder and Chairman Emeritus, the Honorable Tung Chee-hwa.
Mr. Tung was a devoted son of Hong Kong. His deep love for the city and its people informed all that he did. As Hong Kong’s first Chief Executive, he helped guide the city through a historic transition and played a defining role in the implementation and development of “One Country, Two Systems.” Throughout his lifetime of service, his dedication to Hong Kong’s future was matched only by his unwavering patriotism and devotion to the nation.
Across the many roles he held, Mr. Tung was guided by a conviction that lasting peace is not simply something to be hoped for, but something that must be actively built. It requires dialogue, mutual respect, and the courage to keep people in conversation, especially in times of difference.
It was in that spirit that he founded CUSEF in 2008, believing a strong relationship between China and the United States is essential to peace and prosperity around the world. Through CUSEF, he brought people together, fostered dialogue, and preserved space for exchange across generations, sectors, and borders.
His was a life of service: to Hong Kong, to his country, and to the cause of global peace. That legacy lives on in the institutions he built and in all the people he touched who share his conviction that understanding can overcome difference.
We mourn the loss of a remarkable leader, statesman, friend, brother, and father. We will miss his steady counsel, his warmth, and the relentless optimism he brought to this work every day. It is now our privilege and responsibility to build upon all that he began, and to ensure that the purpose he served so faithfully endures.
Board of Governors
China-United States Exchange Foundation
