HONG KONG -- Ho Tsu-kwok, a prominent Hong Kong entrepreneur known for his tobacco and media businesses, died of illness at the age of 77 on June 11 in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said an official statement on Saturday.

Ho, born in Shanghai in June 1949, was the former chairman of the Hong Kong Tobacco Company Limited and former chairman of the Sing Tao News Corporation Limited.

He was a former member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, or the country's top political advisory body.

Ho was hailed as a renowned patriotic entrepreneur and "a close friend of the Communist Party of China," according to the statement, which said he loved the country and Hong Kong, firmly supported the "one country, two systems" policy and the Basic Law of HKSAR, and supported the HKSAR government's efforts in exercising law-based governance.

He played a significant role in ensuring Hong Kong's smooth transition, its return to the motherland, and its long-term prosperity and stability, the statement noted.

Ho also supported the country's reform and opening up and was actively involved in economic development and philanthropic efforts on the mainland, the statement added.

After his passing, leaders of the central authorities sent condolences to Ho's family through various means.