Hong Kong’s first leader Tung Chee-hwa to be honoured with state funeral
City government coordinating arrangements to honour Tung as deputy national-level leader and his contributions to ‘one country, two systems’ framework
Hong Kong authorities are coordinating a state funeral for the city’s first chief executive, the late Tung Chee-hwa, the South China Morning Post has learned, honoring his legacy as a deputy national-level leader and his contributions to the “one country, two systems” framework.
A source familiar with the matter said “preparations were under way” and were being coordinated by the city government after Tung’s death on Tuesday at the age of 89. Responding to queries from the SCMP, the government’s Administration Wing said on Thursday that it would announce relevant arrangements in due course.
Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies think tank, said that as a deputy leader at the national level, Tung could have a funeral comparable to Fok’s.
He expected central government officials to be appointed to a funeral committee and attend the service for Tung, with state leaders sending wreaths.
Veteran China watcher Johnny Lau Yui-siu also believed Tung would be accorded a state funeral in line with convention. He said the funeral’s arrangements and scale could be similar to those of Ann and Fok, and would be coordinated by the central government.
