Vancouver to hold day of tribute for 'Fei Fei'
The mayor of Vancouver is planning to designate a special day in honour of Hong Kong entertainer Lydia Sum Tin-ha (also known as Lydia Shum), whose body has arrived in the Canadian city for her funeral tomorrow.
Friends and fans in Vancouver are paying tribute to the late comedienne, better known as 'Fei Fei', throughout the week.
However, there appear to be no plans to honour Sum in Hong Kong, with a spokesman for the protocol division of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau saying that 'under the existing guidelines only medals for bravery are given out posthumously'.
Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan was to proclaim a day to recognise Sum's life and achievements during a city council meeting yesterday, city spokesman David Hurford said.
He noted that the mayor was also expecting to receive members of the entertainer's family at city hall.
'I was honoured to have met Lydia on numerous occasions,' Mr Sullivan said in a statement. 'Her generosity and commitment to supporting community causes has set an example for all of us. More than the dark-rimmed glasses and trendy hairstyles, we will remember and celebrate her warm heart and wonderfully good humour.'
Sum, 62, who was diagnosed with liver cancer two years ago, died last Tuesday at Queen Mary Hospital. Her body was flown to Canada, where her funeral is scheduled to take place at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the city of Burnaby, on the outskirts of Vancouver.
Staff there declined to give details of the arrangements, citing respect for the family's privacy. But they noted that it would a closed ceremony.
Chinese-language media in Vancouver have been speculating on the numerous Hong Kong stars and high-profile personalities on the guest list.
A public memorial for Sum will be held at noon on Friday at the Vancouver office of the immigration and social service agency, Success.
Kenneth Tung, a friend of Sum and chairman of the agency, said more than 600 people were expected at the memorial, organised in collaboration with the Vancouver Film and Television Artists' Society.
Sum regularly volunteered as an emcee for the immigration agency's fund-raising dinners over the past 12 years, Mr Tung said, adding that through her television shows she provided a link to Hong Kong for generations of immigrants.
'We grew up with her, we watched her since we were very young and we've grown up with her together,' he said. 'We definitely want to show our appreciation.'
