China’s No 4 politician was among senior Beijing officials and other heavyweights who sent wreaths to the wake for Hong Kong tobacco and media tycoon Charles Ho Tsu-kwok.
State-run Xinhua called Ho a patriotic businessman and “an intimate friend” of the Communist Party of China in an article published on Saturday night.
“Ho played an important role in Hong Kong’s smooth transition, successful handover and maintenance of prosperity and stability. He supported the nation’s reform and opening-up policy and actively participated in mainland China’s economic development and public welfare undertakings,” the article said.
The ceremony for Ho, former chairman of the Sing Tao News Corporation who died at the age of 75 earlier this month, was held at the Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point on Saturday.
Ho became a standing committee member of China’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in 2003 and controlled Sing Tao News before selling his shares in 2021.