Tributes pour in for late HK NPC deputy Wong

Tributes poured in for Hong Kong businessman and incumbent deputy to the National People's Congress Peter Wong Man-kong, who died of illness on Monday at the age of 70.

The NPC deputies expressed deep condolences for Wong's death before the third plenary meeting of the second session of the 13th NPC held on Tuesday morning. The meeting is scheduled to hear work reports from the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also expressed her deep sorrow over Wong's passing and extended condolences to his family.

In a statement issued early Tuesday, Lam praised Wong as a patriotic entrepreneur who invested actively in the Chinese mainland since the beginning of reform and opening-up.

The veteran businessman also devoted himself to promoting Hong Kong's commerce and trade on the Chinese mainland, Lam added.

The Hong Kong NPC delegation issued a statement expressing their deep condolences to Peter Wong and his family on Monday. "Peter Wong loved both the country and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and made outstanding contributions to the city and the nation," the statement said.

Wang was sent to Beijing Hospital after becoming sick the night he arrived in Beijing on March 2. He was transferred back to Hong Kong for treatment on March 4 and died at Queen Mary Hospital on March 11.

Wong had been a Hong Kong deputy to the nation's top legislature since 1993. His work included the preparatory work for Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

Wang was among the first batch of Hong Kong entrepreneurs investing in the mainland since the nation implemented the reform and opening-up policy. Besides projects in Shenzhen and Dongguan in Guangdong province, Wong also invested a lot in supporting the development of cultural tourism in the northwest of China.

In 2003, Wong was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star for his long-term contributions to Hong Kong society.