China to lower flags for Zhu Rongji funeral
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji will be cremated in Beijing on Tuesday, and national flags will be flown at half-mast across China, including in Hong Kong and Macau, according to state media.
Zhu died of an illness in Beijing on Wednesday at the age of 97 after a political career that included serving as premier from 1998 to 2003.
State news agency Xinhua said the mourning arrangements will cover key sites in Beijing, provincial government compounds, and Chinese embassies and consulates overseas.
Hong Kong’s government said it would lower both the national and regional flags at multiple official locations, including border checkpoints and the airport.
Key Points
- Xinhua said flags will fly at half-mast on Tuesday at Tiananmen Square, provincial government buildings, and Chinese embassies and consulates abroad.
- The mourning arrangements also apply to Hong Kong and Macau, extending the official tribute beyond the mainland on the funeral day.
- Hong Kong will lower the national and regional flags at government headquarters, Government House, border control points, checkpoints, and Hong Kong International Airport.
- Zhu served as premier from 1998 to 2003 and was widely known as China’s “economic tsar” for pushing market-oriented reforms.
- He helped overhaul state-owned enterprises and played a central role in China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the flag-lowering arrangements mean visible mourning measures at government sites, border crossings and the airport on Tuesday.
The tribute also underlines Zhu’s long-term influence on the economic opening that shaped Hong Kong’s role as a gateway between China and global markets.