May 29 Hong Kong (New York City, night of May 28, 2026) —The Honorable Tung Chee-hwa, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) and First Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, was honored with the China Institute Centennial Award today alongside the Nixon, Bush, and Rockefeller families. The honor was awarded at the China Institute of America’s Centennial Gala. Mr. Tung was recognized for his enduring contributions to mutual understanding between the people of China and the United States. Mr. Andy Tung, Vice Chairman of CUSEF, traveled to New York to accept the honor on his father’s behalf. He was accompanied by Mr. James Chau, President of CUSEF, and members of the Tung family.
In accepting the honor, Mr. Andy Tung paid personal tribute in his speech, “Growing up, I saw my father work harder than almost anyone I knew. He was endlessly curious, always probing ideas, and focused on finding long-term solutions to difficult problems. For him, trust was never an abstract ideal, but a responsibility to listen, to understand, and to seek common ground. He believes that while our two nations have fundamental differences, they also share important interests and must find ways to work together. The China–United States Exchange Foundation is that conviction in lasting form: a nonprofit devoted to dialogue, where differences become starting points rather than end points.”
Mr. James Chau added, “What distinguishes Mr. Tung Chee-hwa is not the force of his voice, but the substance of his character. He is an international statesman who understands that genuine exchange emerges in the space we choose to make for one another. Over a lifetime of service, he has widened that space — not through grand pronouncements, but through constancy, humility, and an originality that commands attention. Today, we renew our promise to preserve that spirit and to carry forward his legacy through our work at the China-United States Exchange Foundation. His example is not only our past. It is our mandate for the future.”
Mr. George Geh, Chief Executive Officer of China Institute, said “For a century, the China Institute has worked to prove that culture is a far stronger foundation for relations than politics alone. Mr. Tung Chee-Hwa built his career on that exact conviction. We are honored to recognize his profound and lasting contribution to the relationship between the United States and China on a night that celebrates exactly that spirit.”
Ms. Yue-Sai Kan, Co-Chair and Board of Trustees of China Institute of America said “Mr. C. H. Tung’s service as Hong Kong’s First Chief Executive from 1997 to 2005 marked a defining chapter in modern Chinese history. His leadership reflected dignity, wisdom, and a deep belief in dialogue and understanding — values that are central to China Institute of America’s mission. We are deeply honored to recognize him at our Centennial Gala.”
The Centennial Gala gathered distinguished leaders from diplomacy, business, academia, and the arts to mark the China Institute of America's 100 years of building bridges of understanding between the United States and China. Held at Cipriani 42nd Street, the evening honored trailblazers whose vision and dedication have strengthened the bilateral relationship across generations. Other honorees included Ming and Eva Hsieh, whose husband-and-wife partnership bridges biotechnology, philanthropy, and East-West cultural exchange through the Hsieh Family Foundation; Professor Kai Li, the Princeton computer scientist whose work on distributed systems and ImageNet laid the foundations of modern artificial intelligence; and Professor Yi Cui, the materials scientist whose breakthroughs in next-generation batteries and clean energy are driving climate solutions worldwide.
Mr. Andy Tung, Vice Chairman of CUSEF, pays a personal tribute to his father during his acceptance speech.
Mr. Andy Tung, Vice Chairman of CUSEF (right), travels to New York to accept the China Institute Centennial Award on behalf of his father, Mr. Tung Chee-hwa. He is accompanied by Mr. James Chau, President of CUSEF (left), and members of the Tung family.