Hundreds of dignitaries are expected to attend a funeral Mass next Monday for shipping tycoon Frank Chao Sze-bang, who died of a heart attack on Saturday.
Chao's youngest brother, George Chao Sze-kwong, 60, said yesterday an overnight vigil would be held at the Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point on Sunday, followed by Mass on Monday.
He said his brother would be buried in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, where their father, Chao Tsong-yea, was born - and buried in 1999, aged 88. Their mother, Chao Nyi Ya-tsung died, aged 90, in September last year. Mr Chao said his brother had died from a heart attack resulting from pneumonia. Chao was admitted to Hong Kong Adventist Hospital at 7am on Saturday but suffered a heart attack at 11am. He was certified dead at 4pm.
Chao, who was 67, had three children. His surviving son is returning from San Francisco to attend the funeral; his daughter is already in the SAR. He was honorary chairman of Wah Kwong Shipping Holdings.
Chao Tsong-yea was the founder of Wah Kwong Shipping Holdings and was one of the three pioneers of Hong Kong's shipping industry.
In April last year, Frank Chao faced a bankruptcy petition from shipping company Bright Island Corporation over an alleged US$6 million (HK$46.7 million) debt involving the sale of a vessel. He avoided being declared bankrupt in October and was held liable for only $50,000 in legal fees when the bankruptcy petition was struck out.