Hong Kong joins mainland China in observing 3 minutes of silence for late former state leader Jiang Zemin
- Government agencies, lawmakers, courts, schools and hospitals pay final tribute to ex-president, as ferry horns echo across Victoria Harbour
- Schools play live broadcast of funeral service in Beijing
Hong Kong on Tuesday observed a moment of silence for late Chinese president Jiang Zemin as government agencies along with other sectors from the courts to hospitals and schools paid their final tribute to the former state leader.
The city joined millions in mainland China in honouring Jiang, with his state funeral beginning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing at 10am.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his principal officials gathered at government headquarters to watch the live broadcast of the memorial service. Formally dressed in black and wearing white masks, the 100-strong group observed three minutes of silence at 10am “to express their deep condolences to Chairman Jiang”, according to a government statement.
“The death of President Jiang is an immeasurable loss to our country,” Lee wrote on Facebook later. “As President Xi Jinping said, Jiang’s famous name, achievements, thoughts and demeanour will forever be recorded in the annals of history and engraved in the hearts of the people from generation to generation.”
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Executive councillors, members of Lee’s key decision-making body, alongside major officials of policy bureaus and departments also joined the government tribute. The weekly Executive Council meeting was held after the service.
Members of the legislature also paid their respects, with about 60 lawmakers showing up. The group, including Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, arrived shortly before 10am to watch the televised memorial on a large screen.
They then observed three minutes of silence at 10am, bowing their heads as solemn music was broadcast. The legislators later sang the national anthem “March of the Volunteers”.
The group stayed behind for Xi’s speech honouring Jiang as a great Marxist and leader who steered the country through difficult times, upheld the rule of socialism and persisted in opening up and implementing economic reforms.
“President Xi reiterated Jiang Zemin’s great achievements and revisited the history of modern China, showing that China had stabilised in difficult times and laid a good foundation for its current development,” Leung told the media after the memorial.
He also hailed Jiang’s contributions to Hong Kong, such as overseeing the city’s handover in 1997. Leung expressed thanks to the late leader for “caring about Hong Kong” and setting a good tone on the “one country, two systems” governing principle.
The Education Bureau had asked schools to suspend all celebratory activities and suggested arranging for students to watch the live broadcast of the funeral on campus. Also joining the three minutes of silence was the English Schools Foundation, the largest international school organisation in the city.
At Scientia Secondary School in Ho Man Tin, all students gathered at the school hall half an hour before the memorial to pay tribute to the late state leader.
They first watched a short video biography of Jiang, produced by public broadcaster RTHK, with a teacher introducing the former leader’s key contributions and the significance of observing silence.
This was followed by a flag-raising ceremony, in which the Chinese flag was first hoisted to the peak, and lowered to half-mast.
Before watching the live broadcast of the funeral service, all students and teachers observed three minutes of silence at 10am, sang the national anthem, and listened to a speech by Xi. They stood for nearly an hour in all.
Student Titus Chan Ho-chuen, 16, said he felt Jiang was an impressive leader with an outgoing character, recalling iconic scenes of the former president playing ping-pong and singing pop songs.
“I had a heavy feeling watching the funeral service,” he said. “I did not know much about him, because he had left the position before I was born. But I have learned a lot about his contributions to our country from my parents since I was young.”
Kate Leung Fu-kei, 16, admitted she felt quite tired after standing still for more than an hour. “Yes, it was tiring but very meaningful. This will be a very unforgettable part of my high school memory,” she said. “It deeply touched my heart. I could feel the grief at the scene of the funeral even watching from afar.”
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Similar arrangements were made at Fung Kai No 1 Primary School in Sheung Shui, where students and teachers gathered to watch clips of a documentary, before paying tribute to Jiang.
“I know more about Chairman Jiang through the morning service,” student Chan Hong-tai, 11, said. “I know that Jiang made tremendous contributions to the return of Hong Kong and I felt very sad at today’s service.”
Principal Chu Wai-lam said he hoped that through showing Jiang’s dedication to the country and its people, students would understand the importance of patriotism.
RTHK also broadcast the service live on television for the public. The 18 district offices opened various community halls and centres for residents to watch the memorial.
About 200 residents, mostly middle-aged and elderly, showed up at the North Point Community Hall.
Ma, a 72-year-old housewife who relocated to Hong Kong from Shanghai 40 years ago, said she felt extremely sad to hear about Jiang’s death. “My tears fell immediately. He really treated young Chinese people nicely,” she added, recalling her youth.
Another resident, Yao Songxin, 73, a retired doctor, said: “We are Chinese, and Jiang contributed a lot to China. We should all remember him.”
Retired driver Ou Yau, 70, said: “He gave people the very first image of China’s prosperity. I want to come and tell him that China is developing so fast and that he can rest in peace.”
The Hong Kong stock market, however, did not follow the mainland practice to halt trading at 10am. It only stopped displaying data on its external screens at its offices during the moment of silence. Most of the private workforce in the city continued with daily operations with no special arrangements.
The Hospital Authority called on staff members to join the three-minute mourning, while assuring the public that all services, especially emergency ones, would continue to function.
Judges, judicial officers and staff members – except those providing emergency services – also joined the commemoration, with court proceedings and services adjourned. Hearings originally set for 10am were pushed back by three minutes.
On both sides of Victoria Harbour, ferry horns echoed in a three-minute salute. Flags at government agencies, schools, and public organisations flew at half-mast.
All government officials will not attend any public entertainment activities on Tuesday, while similar events organised or funded by authorities have been postponed or cancelled.
Jiang, who had leukaemia, died of multiple organ failure last Wednesday in Shanghai at the age of 96.
Additional reporting by Ng Kang-chung, Karin Lyu and Kitty Wang
