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Catherine Chan

MORE than 1,500 people, including the territory's leading tycoons, politicians and government officials, paid their last respects to Legislative Councillor Mr Stephen Cheong Kam-chuen yesterday.

  Mr Cheong was eulogised at the funeral service as a man of vision who had not been afraid to bare his emotions when it came to fighting for what he believed in - the good of Hongkong.

  He died in Queen Mary Hospital last Tuesday after a massive heart attack at the age of 51.

  Legislative Councillor Mr Allen Lee Peng-fei - a long-time friend - read the eulogy.

   ''Stephen was always generous, genial and helpful,'' said the Liberal Party preparatory committee member.

  ''Others, less courageous, shrank from the public arena when the pressure mounted. Not Stephen. He yearned to promote a brighter Hongkong and would not be fazed or deterred by cynicism, sniggers and outright hostility of those who did not share his bold vision.''   Mr Lee remembered the time Mr Cheong cried in public when the Government refused to back his bid to hold a world exposition on the Wan Chai waterfront in 1997.

  ''This display only deepened our affection and respect for Stephen for he believed so profoundly in the cause that he would bare his emotions,'' said Mr Lee.

  ''Today, Stephen, we weep for you as you wept for our Hongkong.''   The Governor, Mr Chris Patten, stayed for about five minutes. He shook hands with members of the Cheong family before leaving for an Executive Council meeting.

  The Chinese representative of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group, Mr Luo Jiahuan, and vice-directors of the New China News Agency, Mr Zhang Junsheng and Mr Zheng Guoxiong, were also there for about five minutes.

  Employees of Mr Cheong's textile company began packing the first floor main hall of the Hongkong Funeral Home before 7.30 am.

  They shared their grief with business magnates Mr Li Ka-shing of Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa, Mr Peter Woo Kwong-ching of Wharf Holdings, Mr Tsui Tsin-tong of China Paint and casino tycoon Mr Stanley Ho.

  The Chief Secretary, Sir David Ford, and the Financial Secretary, Mr Hamish Macleod, led more than 10 senior policy secretaries who attended the service.

  Senior Executive Councillor Lady Dunn and husband Mr Michael Thomas, and Exco members Sir William Purves, Ms Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, Professor Edward Chen Kwan-yiu, Mr Andrew Li Kwok-nang, Mr Denis Chang Khen-lee and Mr Raymond Ch'ien Kuo-fung were also present.

  The President of the Legislative Council, Mr John Swaine, led the Legco delegation.

  Floral tributes covered the main hall on the first floor, the lift lobby and overflowed outside the building.

  A plaque emblazoned with Chinese characters, praising Mr Cheong's vision and far-sightedness, hung over the altar, decorated with white orchids and lit by a pair of white candles.

  Adorning the front of the altar were floral tributes from his bereaved widow, Joan, and four children.

  Chinese officials who sent wreaths included the Director of the State Council's Hongkong and Macau Affairs Office, Mr Lu Ping, and local NCNA chief Mr Zhou Nan and his deputies.

  Mrs Cheong was flanked by her eldest son, Anthony, and daughter-in-law Mariana as she said her final farewell.

  The coffin, covered with white roses, was transferred to Cape Collinson Crematorium.

   Mr Cheong's final resting place will be the Catholic Cemetery in Cheung Sha Wan.



'Today, Stephen, we weep for you as you wept for our Hongkong'