A Funeral Fit for a Patriot: Hong Kong Mourns its First Post Colonial Leader The state funeral of Tung Chee hwa, Hong Kong's first leader after the handover from Britain in 1997, has drawn attention to the complex legacy of this pivotal figure.
Only a handful of individuals have received similar honors since British rule ended. Top Chinese officials, including Beijing's top man for Hong Kong and Macau affairs, attended the funeral.
Their presence underscores the level of official backing from the mainland for this funeral.