T ung Chee Hwa is a Hong Kong billionaire who is one of the most prominent and influential political figures in the city's post-colonial history. He is the eldest son of the late shipping magnate C. Y. Tung, the founder of the Orient Overseas shipping line. After his father's death, he and his younger brother, Tung Chee Chen, took control of the family's vast business empire. While his brother focused on running the company, Tung Chee Hwa's career took a political turn.

In 1997, following the handover of Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule, he was selected by Beijing to become the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He served in this role until his resignation in 2005 amidst widespread public dissatisfaction and massive protests. His tenure was marked by economic challenges, including the Asian Financial Crisis, and political controversy over issues of democracy and civil liberties. The family's wealth was crystalized in 2018 with the sale of their shipping company, Orient Overseas, to the Chinese state-owned firm COSCO for over $6 billion. He now serves as a vice chairman of a top political advisory body in Beijing.