The Honorable Tung Chee-hwa passed away peacefully on 8 September 2026, at the age of 89. Today, all of us at the Yidan Prize Foundation remember Mr Tung with deep respect and enduring gratitude. 

Mr Tung dedicated his life with an unwavering commitment to the service of the Nation and the Hong Kong SAR. In public office, he championed science and education, strove to advance schools and learning, and brought lasting benefits to scholars and students. 

Education was ever near to his heart, and he was generous in his support of younger minds. When the Yidan Prize was founded in Hong Kong in 2016, our founder and colleagues reached out to him during the preparatory stage to seek his counsel. Mr Tung offered his encouragement, guided us with great care, and gave advice of deep and lasting worth to us all. 

On the eve of the inaugural Yidan Prize Awards Ceremony in 2017, Mr Tung thoughtfully held off on formally confirming his attendance and quietly arrived on site of his own accord. He took the initiative to meet the laureates and offer words of encouragement to our foundation colleagues. This unexpected gesture of care was an elder's wholehearted endorsement of an educational ideal, and an earnest encouragement to his juniors. Its enduring warmth remains in the hearts of all Yidan Prize colleagues to this day. 

Though he has departed, his grace abides. We shall forever cherish his deep kindness, as well as his profound passion and vision for education in our hearts. 

Yidan Prize Foundation 
10 September 2026