Politicians and tycoons pay tribute to 'outstanding patriot'

Beijing officials, SAR leaders and tycoons yesterday paid their last respects to Dr Ann Tse-kai - one of Hong Kong's two top advisers to Beijing - who died of heart complications 10 days ago.

In a eulogy, Ye Xuanping of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) praised Ann's contribution to Hong Kong's smooth transition and the implementation of 'one country, two systems'. 'His death is a loss to Hong Kong and a loss to the country,' said Mr Ye, a vice-chairman of the CPPCC and the most senior official from Beijing to attend the funeral.

Other mainland officials included another CPPCC vice-chairman, Wang Zhaoguo, secretary-general Zheng Wantong and the State Council's Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Liao Hui.

Apart from Mr Zheng and Mr Liao, the other eight pallbearers were Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, CPPCC local vice-chairman Henry Fok Ying-tung - the only other SAR person apart from Ann with the rank of state leader; Beijing Liaison Office Director Jiang Enzhu; head of the Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong Ma Yuzhen; TVB chairman Sir Run Run Shaw; Executive Council convenor Leung Chun-ying; and Vincent Chow Wen-hsien and P. C. Sze, two of Ann's longtime business partners.

President Jiang Zemin, Premier Zhu Rongji, National People's Congress chairman Li Peng and CPPCC chairman Li Ruihuan were among the seven Politburo Standing Committee members whose wreaths were placed prominently at the front of the hall.

Also paying their last respects were Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah and tycoons Li Ka-shing of the Cheung Kong group, New World Development chairman Cheng Yu-tung and Sun Hung Kai Properties vice-chairman Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong, as well as several principal government officials, executive councillors and legislators. Democratic Party chairman Martin Lee Chu-ming was the only senior representative of the democratic camp present.