Members of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR observe a three-minute silence on Dec 6, 2022 to pay tribute to Jiang Zemin who passed away on Nov 30. They watched the live broadcast of the memorial service held for Jiang in Beijing. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region joined the nation on Tuesday in expressing its condolences over the passing of former president Jiang Zemin, who died in Shanghai on Nov 30 at the age of 96.
A memorial service for the former leader began in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing at 10 am on Tuesday, and was broadcast live by Radio Television Hong Kong.
All HKSAR government staff observed three minutes’ silence as the memorial service got underway in the capital. Hong Kong residents also observed the three-minute silence as they gathered to watch the service at designated locations across the city. Government vessels honked simultaneously in tribute to Jiang
All HKSAR government staff observed three minutes’ silence as the memorial service got underway in the capital. Hong Kong residents also observed the three-minute silence as they gathered to watch the service at designated locations across the city. Government vessels honked simultaneously in tribute to Jiang.
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National and HKSAR flags were flown at half-mast at all SAR government buildings in Hong Kong and abroad. The government has also cancelled or postponed all entertainment and celebration activities officially organized or funded, and government officials will not attend public entertainment activities.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and members of the Executive Council watched the live broadcast of the memorial service and observed a moment’s silence ahead of the weekly council meeting on Tuesday morning. The media session before the meeting was also suspended.
Members of the Legislative Council watched the service in the LegCo complex and stood in silence. Visits to the Legislative Council were rescheduled and all construction works at the complex were suspended for the day.
Staff at the judiciary also observed three minutes’ silence, while courts suspended hearings during the silence observation. Court sessions due to start at 10 am resumed after the service. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing stopped displaying stocks information on its external screens at Exchange Square in Central as HKEX Chief Executive Nicolas Aguzin led senior executives in observing three minutes’ silence in the HKEX Connect Hall. The city’s stock market operator also halted all external events and ceremonies on Tuesday.
Students attend a ceremony to mourn the passing of Jiang Zemin in Scientia Secondary School in Ho Man Tin on Dec 6, 2022. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Students at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology watched the live broadcast of the memorial service on their campus as management staff joined in paying tribute to Jiang. Some secondary schools made similar arrangements to mourn the former leader's passing.
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Messages of condolences were screened on the concourses of the city’s MTR stations, with some MTR-owned shopping centers broadcasting the live memorial service in Beijing.