The funeral committee for the late Henry Fok Ying-tung was announced yesterday with Wang Zhongyu, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), as its chair.

Fok was another vice-chairman of the nation's top advisory body when he passed away in Beijing last Saturday at the age of 84.

There will be as many as 74 people in the funeral committee. Under Wang are four vice-chairpersons, namely, Liao Hui, CPPCC National Committee vice-chairman and director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; Liu Yandong, CPPCC National Committee vice-chairwoman and head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee; Tung Chee-hwa, CPPCC National Committee vice-chairman; and Donald Tsang, Hong Kong's chief executive (CE).

An office had been set up under the committee with Gao Siren, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, as its director.

The committee also comprises leaders of concerned departments of the central government and Guangdong Province, representatives of the central government organizations in Hong Kong, leaders of the Hong Kong government departments and legislative and judicial organizations, HKSAR members of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, HKSAR members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and representatives of renowned people in Hong Kong.

The funeral service for the public will be held next Tuesday from 8:30 am to 11 am on the first floor of Hong Kong Funeral Home.

CE Donald Tsang, who is scheduled to pay an official visit to Belgium and France next week to meet state leaders and senior government officials, will not be able to attend the funeral.

Yesterday afternoon he called on the Fok family at their residence at Sassoon Road to express his condolences.

He signed on the book of condolence and bowed to Fok's portrait. He said he would remember Fok for his engaging personality, and his spirit of always putting national interests before his own.

"After Mr Fok's death, Hong Kong people, regardless of social ranks and political inclinations, have been unanimous in their appreciation of his contributions, which are so creditable," Tsang said, adding that the people's praises reflected the importance of Fok in their hearts.

The chief executive, however, expressed regret to the Fok family for not being able to be present at the funeral.

Fok's widow Elaine, on behalf of her family, thanked the CE for the assistance offered by the central and SAR governments on the funeral arrangements.

Tsang and his wife Selina, the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office John Tsang, stayed with the Foks for about half an hour.

Meanwhile, Tung Chee-hwa said in a telephone interview by TVB yesterday that he had last talked to Fok about two months ago and had been hoping for his recovery. He said he had been deeply saddened as he had lost one of his best friends.