Gov’t holds group mourning for former president Jiang Zemin

The local government hosted a group mourning event following the passing of former Chinese president Jiang Zemin at the Forum Macao Complex yesterday.

Images released by the government showed a large group of government officials and government committee members – over 260 people according to the government – gathered at the main hall of the complex to watch the live broadcast of the memorial ceremony held in Beijing.

At 10 a.m., the group observed a three-minute silence alongside other attendees to the service across the country.

Concurrently, public service officers, including but not limited to paramedics and police officers, observed the moment of silence at their respective posts.

Outside the north entrance of the complex, officers were pictured taking a moment of silence alongside government vehicles, the horns of which were sounded for three whole minutes in commemoration of the former head of state. Ships owned by the government also had their horns sounded for three minutes.

The emergency alarms on the Guia Hill, the Taipa Grande, the Coloane Hill and the Security Forces Higher Institution were also sounded for the same duration of time.

Public broadcaster TDM also aired the ceremony held in Beijing live on its television and radio channels.

As the government appealed to local groups and associations to watch the ceremony held in Beijing and observe the period of silence too, government allies such as the Macao Chamber of Commerce, the Macao Federation of Trade Unions, the General Federation of Neighborhood Associations, as well as the Hou Kong Middle School, held their respective sessions to watch the ceremony, according to TDM News.

Flags have been flying at half-mast since the announcement of Jiang’s passing.

Funeral committee expresses gratitude

Jiang Zemin’s Funeral Committee issued an announcement yesterday expressing gratitude for the condolences received over Jiang’s passing.

The No. 3 Announcement expressed “heartfelt gratitude toward the heads of state and government, parliaments, government departments, political parties, friendly organizations, and prominent figures from various circles.”

As cited in a Xinhua report,  compatriots in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan have sent “a large number of messages and letters of condolence, issued statements, made remarks and participated in memorial services to express their grief and profound sympathy.”