A file photo of Tung Chee-hwa. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Tung Chee-hwa, former vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and former chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), died of illness at the age of 89 in Hong Kong at 9:57 pm Tuesday.

Tung is regarded as an outstanding contributor to "one country, two systems," a renowned patriot, an outstanding social activist and a close friend of the Communist Party of China.

He served as vice chairman of the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th National Committees of the CPPCC. He was the first- and second-term chief executive of the HKSAR.