Former CE Tung Chee-hwa Falls Over After NPC Session

Hong Kong's first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, appeared to have taken a tumble at the conclusion of the opening session of the National People's Congress in Beijing on Friday.

Delegates had been milling about at the Great Hall of the People as music filled the venue following the opening session, before cameras shifted their attention to Tung – a vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The 83-year-old was seen on the floor, and it took a while before several other members were able to help him get up.

Videos then showed Chief Executive Carrie Lam making her way over to check on the state leader, who seemed to indicate that he was alright.

Tung then made his way out of the hall, flanked by other officials, and briefly stopping to shake hands with another former chief executive, CY Leung, who followed him out.

Responding to media inquires on Friday afternoon, the former CE said he's "doing just fine", adding he was too focused on mingling with others that he accidentally tripped over.

Tung served as Hong Kong's leader immediately after the handover until 2005, when he resigned citing "leg pain".

He was then appointed as a vice chairman of the CPPCC, and founded the 'Our Hong Kong Foundation' think tank in 2014.

He's remained active in Hong Kong's political arena over the years and had been outspoken on a range of different issues.

In an online forum organised by his own think tank last December, Tung described the leadership of President Xi Jinping as a “blessing” for Chinese people.

He also called on the SAR government to resolve a number of deep-seated issues, such as the widening wealth gap, housing shortage, a “battered education system” as well as “a whole generation of youth who have lost hope”.

______________________________