More than 1,000 people, including Hong Kong's rich and powerful, bade farewell to banker Lee Quo-wei at his funeral vigil in North Point yesterday.
Lee, who died on August 10, aged 95, was executive chairman of Hang Seng Bank from 1983 to 1998. He was also a key figure during Hong Kong's transition from British rule, having visited Beijing to meet paramount leader Deng Xiaoping in 1984.
Former premier Zhu Rongji , Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, and his predecessors Tung Chee-hwa and Donald Tsang Yam-kuen all sent flowers to the Hong Kong Funeral Home.
Among those to pay their respects in person were tycoons Li Ka-shing, Lee Shau-kee, Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong and Walter Kwok Ping-sheung, banker David Li Kwok-po and philanthropist Christina Lee Look Ngan-kwan. Politicians in attendance included former Macau chief executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah, deputy director of the Basic Law Committee Elsie Leung Oi-sie and executive councillor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.
Former Legco president Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, a member of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said: "Mr Lee was a good teacher for young talent. He would give you opportunities whether he approved of you or not."
Former Hong Kong Monetary Authority chief executive Joseph Yam Chi-kwong, Chinese University vice chancellor Joseph Sung Jao-yiu and Hang Seng Bank vice-chairman and chief executive Rose Lee Wai-mun also paid tribute.