Political leaders from across the spectrum were among 6,000 people who paid tribute to David Chan Yuk-cheung, who drowned during a protest swim near the Diaoyu Islands last month.
A vice-director of Xinhua (the New China News Agency), Zheng Guoxiong and Secretary for Home Affairs Michael Suen Ming-yeung attended yesterday's funeral service and cremation.
The ceremony climaxed when six of Chan's friends and allies on the Diaoyu expedition, including ship's captain Ngai Lup-chee, wrapped Chan's coffin in the Chinese flag.
The flag, provided by Xinhua, was to be kept by Chan's wife and two children.
Mr Zheng said Chan's patriotism was confirmed by the fact he had carried the five-starred flag on his ill-fated mission.
Mr Suen, Legislative Council President Andrew Wong Wang-fat, Preparatory Committee vice-chairman Leung Chun-ying and Executive Councillor Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen were pallbearers.
Tung Chee-hwa, vice-chairman of the Preparatory Committee and a contender for chief executive, arrived at the Hong Kong Funeral Home in Quarry Bay before 8 am.
