Elsie Tu funeral: Former Hong Kong leaders Tung Chee-hwa and Donald Tsang to join CY Leung as pallbearers
Tu’s funeral on Sunday will be the first time in Hong Kong where both former chief executives and the current leader will be pallbearers
The funeral of legendary politician and champion of the underprivileged Elsie Tu, who died at 102 earlier this month, will be held on Sunday with the current chief executive and two former leaders of the city among the eight pallbearers.
Former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa and his successor Donald Tsang Yam-kuen will carry the casket of Tu at Sunday’s funeral at Universal Funeral Parlour in Hung Hom at noon, along with the incumbent city chief Leung Chun-ying, according to an announcement from the Elsie Tu Education Fund.
Tu’s funeral will be the first in Hong Kong where the current chief executive and the two former leaders of the city will be among the pallbearers.
READ MORE: Elsie Tu, veteran Hong Kong politician and champion of the underprivileged, dies at 102
A cremation ceremony at the Cape Collinson Crematorium in Chai Wan will be held after the funeral and Tu’s ashes will be buried with the remains of her husband Andrew Tu Hsueh-kwei.
The English-born lawmaker, social activist and anti-corruption campaigner died of pneumonia at the United Christian Hospital on December 8.
During her 64 years in Hong Kong, Tu became a legend, admired by political allies and foes alike for her tireless support of the poor.
Born in England in 1913, Tu and her then-husband William Elliot moved to Hong Kong to carry out missionary work in 1951. They divorced soon after.
Tu served as a lawmaker from 1988 to 1995, and in the Provisional Legislative Council from 1997 to 1998.
The central government’s liaison office deputy director Qiu Hong, deputy director of the Basic Law Committee Elsie Leung Oi-sie, and Legislative Council President Jasper Tsang Yok-sing will also pay the final mark of respect to Tu.
A LIFE IN PICTURES: Veteran Hong Kong politician Elsie Tu
Tu was dubbed the “real spirit of Hong Kong”by the Mu Kuang English School which she founded with her late second husband Andrew Tu Hsueh-kwei in Kwun Tong in 1954.
Last respects will be held at the funeral parlour from 5pm today.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be payable by cheques to Elsie Tu Education Fund Limited. (55 Kung Lok Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon)
