Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew all expressed their condolences to the family of late Hong Kong movie industry giant Sir Run Run Shaw on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Run Run Shaw passed away on Tuesday at his home in Hong Kong, China. He was 107.

Lee Kuan Yew, the founding prime minister of modern Singapore, praised Shaw on Tuesday for his contributions to Asian cinema.

"Run Run will be remembered for his vision and determination in building up the Shaw Brothers' movie empire that has touched the lives of many across the region from Hong Kong to Southeast Asia and beyond," he wrote in a letter to Shaw's wife Mona.

Lee said that he has been friends with Run Run Shaw for more than 50 years. They met frequently in Singapore and Hong Kong.

"Whenever I visited Hong Kong, Run Run would graciously host Geok Choo (Lee's wife) and me, place one of his Rolls-Royces at my disposal, and update us on the latest developments. I have always benefited from Run Run's insights," Lee wrote.

Lee said they last met in May 2012 in Hong Kong.

"Run Run was already frail but his spirit was still strong," he said.

The younger Lee wrote in a Facebook post that he was saddened to hear about the death of the kung-fu film pioneer.

"He lived in Hong Kong, but was a good friend of Singapore," he wrote. "The Shaw Brothers (Run Run and Run Me) were a major player in our movie industry. Generations of Singaporeans enjoyed their movies and TV shows. The Shaw Foundation has contributed to many charitable causes here," he said.

Lee Hsien Loong said he first met the movie pioneer in 1985, when Run Run Shaw flew in to Singapore to share his views on how Singapore could grow its media-related services.

Tony Tan Keng Yam also paid tribute to Run Run Shaw on Wednesday.

Writing in a Facebook post, Tan said that Shaw, though living in Hong Kong, made many contributions to Singapore.

Shaw made a special visit to Singapore to contribute to the discussions of Singapore's Economic Committee in 1985, when Tan was minister for trade and industry.

Tan said he was impressed by Shaw's drive, perceptiveness and vision each time they met.

Many in Singapore and around the world have been touched by Run Run Shaw, who was an iconic figure in the entertainment and filming industry, and brought Chinese cinema beyond China to thousands in Southeast Asia and the world.

He and his brother Run Me started the Shaw Organization in Singapore to produce films for both the Singapore market and the region. The first air-conditioned cinema in Singapore was developed by Shaw Organization, whose cinemas have remained a significant part of Singapore's leisure landscape over the years. Endi

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