Tung Chee-hwa tipped for Hong Kong state funeral
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s first Chief Executive and a former vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, is expected to receive a state funeral in Hong Kong. The arrangements under discussion include draping his coffin in the national flag and having national leaders attend the memorial service. Wreaths are also expected from President Xi Jinping and other top national leaders, while the funeral would become the third state funeral held in Hong Kong if it proceeds as outlined. Sources said the Hong Kong government and central government agencies in the city are still coordinating the schedule, venue, ceremonial arrangements and security plans
Key Points
- The Standard reported Tung is expected to receive a state funeral in Hong Kong, with national leaders attending and his coffin draped in the national flag
- Tung was Hong Kong’s first Chief Executive and later served as a vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee
- The report said Tung’s memorial service would be the third state funeral held in Hong Kong, following earlier precedents in 2000 and 2006
- In 2000, industrialist and CPPCC vice chairman Ann Tse-kai died in Hong Kong at 87, and Ye Xuanping came to deliver the eulogy
- In 2006, Henry Fok Ying-tung died in Beijing at 84, and his remains were returned to Hong Kong for a public memorial led by Wang Zhongyu
Why It Matters
The funeral arrangements point to the political stature Tung held in both Hong Kong and at the national level, and to the ceremonial role Hong Kong can play for figures with senior state-linked positions. For Hong Kong readers, the event would also revive a rare protocol last seen in the city in 2006, with visible coordination between the HKSAR government and central authorities