SCMP Publisher Recalls Tung Chee-hwa's Push for US-China Dialogue

South China Morning Post publisher Tammy Tam has paid tribute to Hong Kong's first chief executive, the late Tung Chee-hwa, describing him as a "humble and unpretentious personality" who worked to foster ties between China and the United States.

Her recollections appear in a special SCMP commemorative supplement featuring tributes from heavyweights across various sectors. Tam drew on encounters spanning her time as a frontline reporter, Tung's regular exchanges with media representatives, and his rare appearance at an SCMP conference in 2020 to advocate US-China dialogue.

Early Encounters and Personal Outreach

The SCMP publisher recalled receiving an unexpected phone call from Tung's office shortly after joining the newspaper more than a decade ago. "Are you Ms Tam? Mr Tung wants to speak to you," the office told her.

The tribute characterizes Tung as someone who built bridges over walls, underscoring his commitment to dialogue and relationship-building between major powers during a period of growing tensions. The commemorative supplement reflects the breadth of Tung's influence across Hong Kong's business, political, and civil society sectors.

Source: South China Morning Post