On Sunday (September 20), the memorial service for the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Tung Chee-hwa, was held in Hong Kong. Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, along with seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, Vice President Han Zheng, and former senior officials Hu Jintao, Li Ruihuan, and Wen Jiabao, laid wreaths. Li Ruihuan’s absence from Jiang Zemin’s memorial service in the past had sparked speculation.
Former Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Tung Chee-hwa passed away on September 8 at the age of 89. His public memorial service was held on September 20 at the Fu Hai Tang Hall of the North Point Funeral Parlour in Hong Kong with a state funeral arrangement.
Three Vice Chairmen of the CPPCC, Shi Taifeng, Leung Chun-ying, and Wang Dongfeng, Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Xia Baolong, and the current Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam, attended the public memorial service. Shi Taifeng, member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party and Vice Chairman of the CPPCC, delivered a eulogy at the memorial service.
According to reports from Hong Kong media, Xi Jinping and seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, Vice President Han Zheng, and former party leader Hu Jintao, former Chairman of the CPPCC Li Ruihuan, and former Premier Wen Jiabao, among other senior officials, laid wreaths.
Previously, on August 18, a farewell ceremony for the body of former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji was held in Beijing, where Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, and Li Ruihuan also laid wreaths. However, on August 17, Li Ruihuan was absent from Jiang Zemin’s memorial service, leading to speculation. Commentator Cai Shenkun posted that Li Ruihuan’s absence was somewhat unexpected, as it was said that he was in good health.
Li Ruihuan, known as a nemesis of Jiang Zemin, was the only member of the Politburo Standing Committee at that time who dared to confront Jiang face-to-face and openly opposed some of Jiang’s policies.
Tung Chee-hwa had a close relationship with Xi Jinping. After Tung Chee-hwa’s passing, there has been keen interest in how and where the official commemorative events would be held, and whether Xi Jinping would attend.
Before Xi Jinping took office in November 2012, there was intense power struggle among the top leaders, with Xi Jinping mysteriously disappearing at one point. Then Vice Chairman of the CPPCC, Tung Chee-hwa, had made some remarks.
At that time, Tung Chee-hwa told the public: Xi had injured his back while swimming, he will succeed as planned, and former President Hu Jintao would continue to serve as Chairman of the Central Military Commission for a period after stepping down.
However, Hu Jintao did not retain the post of Chairman of the Central Military Commission afterwards.