Alibaba Group Holding has mourned the death of Tung Chee-hwa, who served as an independent director, saying the global perspective of Hong Kong’s first leader helped the e-commerce giant remain rooted in China while expanding internationally. He joined Alibaba Group’s board as an independent director in 2014 and held the position until 2022. Alibaba, which owns the South China Morning Post, said on Friday that Tung’s “invaluable contributions and full support” during his tenure had played a vital role in the company’s development. “His global perspective helped Alibaba stay rooted in China while expanding globally,” it said. The company described him as a “visionary leader, steadfast patriot and also an elder of noble character, humility and kindness” who had always placed Hong Kong’s and the nation’s development at heart.