Grieving for former first lady Faina Chiang Fang-liang (
Members of the public and government officials alike paid their respects to Chiang, the widow of late president Chiang Ching-Kuo (
Chiang, who suffered chronic ill health in her later years, died on Wednesday afternoon. She was 88.
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) visited the memorial hall yesterday, commending Chiang for her accomplishments as a wife and as a mother.
Former president Lee Teng-hui (
Hundreds of private citizens also visited the hall, some weeping openly as they bade farewell.
Noticeably absent from the mourning hall was KMT legislator-elect John Chang (
Yesterday morning Chang met with his nephew, Chiang Hsiao-kang (
John Chang, who is the son of Chiang Ching-Kuo and his mistress Chang Ya-ruo (
When asked if he would attend the funeral, Chang said only that he would discuss the matter with his half sister-in-law, Hsu Nai-Chin (徐乃錦) before making a decision.
According to the hospital, the mourning hall dedicated to Chiang Fang-liang will be open to the public for the next eight days.