About 600 local and central government officials, community leaders, members of the grieving family and friends attended the funeral of community leader Ma Man Kei at Macau Forum on Sunday.
Ma passed away after a prolonged illness in Beijing on May 26 where he had been hospitalised for several years. Sources close to the family said that the 95-year-old businessman died of age-related causes.
Xinhua reported on Sunday that during his last days and after he passed away, a number of state leaders, including President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and former presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, either visited him in hospital or sent condolences to his family.
Ma was a vice-chairman of the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). He was a former member of the Macau Legislative Assembly and permanent president of the Macau Chamber of Commerce. He also chaired the Chinese Literature Foundation.
Du Qinglin, the most senior vice-chairman of the CPPCC, delivered a speech at the funeral, pointing out that Ma had contributed to the development of the nation and the prosperity and stability of Macau.
Xinhua praised Ma as a distinguished community leader, patriot and close friend of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On and his predecessor Edmund Ho Hau Wa as well as Liaison Office Director Li Gang were among the pallbearers.
Two Ma family members hold prominent political positions in Macau. His son Ma Iao Lai is a member of the government’s top advisory Executive Council (ExCo). His grandson Ma Chi Seng is an appointed member of the Legislative Assembly (AL). (macaunews/macaupost)
