Lau Wong-fat ‘fine’ at Hong Kong handover reception amid rumours of health problems

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Former Heung Yee Kuk Chairman Lau Wong-fat (left) and Director of Beijing's Liaison Office in Hong Kong Zhang Xiaoming attend the Heung Yee Kuk reception. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 4:15pm, 30 Jun 2015Updated: 8:31pm, 30 Jun 2015

Rural patriarch Lau Wong-fat stole the show at the Heung Yee Kuk reception today as he made a rare public appearance amid swirling rumours about his health.

Lau looked in good spirits at the reception celebrating the anniversary of the handover, although he seemed to have to use a cane to support him while walking.

It was his first public appearance since the walkout turned a Legislative Council vote on political reform on June 18 into a farce.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and central government liaison office director Zhang Xiaoming were among the guests.

(From left) Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So Kam-leun, Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing and Former Heung Yee Kuk Chairman Lau Wong-fat, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, Heung Yee Kuk Chairman Kenneth Lau Ip-keung, Director of Beijing's Liaison Office in Hong Kong Zhang Xiaoming, with other officiating guests at the Heung Yee Kuk reception. Photo: Sam Tsang

Lau was surrounded by guests and officials as he arrived in the venue.

On the stage, he sat next to Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. While they both chatted, there was no exchange between Lau and Leung or Zhang on the stage.