Lai Man Wa receives distinguished funeral service

The funeral at São Miguel Arcanjo cemetery

Many major officials solemnly bid farewell to the late head of the Macau Customs Service, Lai Man Wa, at the Kang Wu Funeral parlor yesterday morning before her body was laid to rest in the São Miguel Arcanjo cemetery.
Lai’s funeral service continued for a second day, with the Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak delivering a five-minute memorial speech and standing in silent observation before the burial.
“It has been a nightmare for the whole personnel within the customs department, who have been busy with the preparatory works for the upcoming policy address, that director general Lai’s life ended so abruptly,” noted Wong. “Those works under her supervision were about to be completed, so it is a shame that she left us in this way.”

Chui Sai On attended the memorial service yesterday

Lai received what is considered to be the most honorable funeral service for civil servants – her coffin, draped in the department’s flag, was carried by eight customs officers in a procession all the way to the cemetery.
With the dirge playing in the background, one of the officers delivered Lai’s cap, insignia, and the folded flag from the coffin to the deceased’s family while the honor guards paid their respects.
The coffin was then transported to the cemetery. Lai’s son, who was said to have rushed back to the region from England to be in attendance, emerged from the cemetery after the conclusion of the ceremony, accompanied by other distraught family members.
Asked if the family felt suspicious over Lai’s death, he shook his head and said: “There isn’t much to say.” The family then left the cemetery in a van.
Journalists’ inquiries to Secretary Wong Sio Chak whether or not Lai’s urine-soaked mobile phone could be turned on again, and when the authorities would gain access to her medical history were left unanswered as he hastily left the cemetery and slid into his government vehicle.
The administration’s assertion that Lai’s abrupt death was a suicide has drawn enormous skepticism from society and the media.