Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's first leader under Chinese rule, dies at 89 ↧ ↧ Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's first leader under Chinese rule, dies at 89 "For the first time in history, we, the people of Hong Kong, will be master of our own destiny." On July 1, 1997, Tung Chee-hwa delivered his first speech as chief executive of the territory, following its handover from the United Kingdom to China.