National flag likely to cover Ma's coffin in final honour
Party applies to Beijing for tribute at loyalist's funeral
The DAB has requested that the coffin of its late chairman Ma Lik be draped in the national flag at his funeral to reflect what it said was his contribution to the country and Hong Kong.
Speaking after Ma's body was brought back from Guangzhou yesterday afternoon, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong vice-chairman Tam Yiu-chung said an application had been made to the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong, since Beijing would need to approve use of the flag.
But Mr Tam added: 'I think there shouldn't be any problem.' Ma, who died of colon cancer in hospital at Guangzhou's Sun Yat-sen University on Wednesday, aged 55, was a local delegate to the National People's Congress.
Mourners, including staff of the hospital and Guangdong provincial officials, paid their last respects to Ma by bowing three times before the coffin in Guangzhou.
Ma's wife, Leung Wai-ching, appeared calm as she placed a bunch of flowers on her husband's coffin, while DAB representatives - including vice-chairmen Lau Kong-wah and Greg So Kam-leung - placed a heart-shaped wreath on it.
Flanked by relatives, his nephew said they missed his uncle dearly.
His family and the DAB representatives accompanied the coffin back to the Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point, where about 40 core members of the party - all dressed in black or white - were waiting, carrying two banners. One read 'Always remember', while the other read, 'We deeply mourn the death of chairman Ma Lik'.
Among those waiting were Mr Tam, fellow vice-chairman Ip Kwok-him and Tsang Yok-sing, chairman of the former Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong.
Mr Tsang appeared particularly grief-stricken, while legislator Choy So-yuk wept throughout. After Mr Tam placed a bunch of flowers on the coffin, all present observed three minutes' silence.
Other leading Beijing loyalists have had their coffins draped with the national flag. They include Henry Fok Ying-tung, a vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Lee Chark-tim, a former chief of the Federation of Trade Unions and NPC delegate.
Generally, only people who occupy a senior rank in the Chinese political hierarchy or who make a very substantial contribution to the nation can have their coffins draped in the national flag.
A public memorial to Ma will be held at the Hong Kong Funeral Home on August 23, one day before his funeral.
A funeral committee, led by Mr Tam and whose members include Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen, Zhou Junming , a deputy director of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong, and executive councillor Leung Chun-ying, has been established.
Members of the public who would like to pay tribute to Ma can visit the DAB's headquarters, Ma's former office or any of the DAB's 18 offices to sign condolence books.
