Chiang relatives arrive for former first lady's funeral

In preparation to say goodbye to Taiwan's Soviet-born former first lady Faina Chiang Fang-liang (蔣方良), members of the Chiang family flew in to Taiwan yesterday to attend today's funeral services, while others made their escape.

Chiang, who died on Dec. 15 of pulmonary and cardiac failure at the age of 88, was the widow of late president Chiang Ching-Kuo (蔣經國). Her funeral will be held today in Taipei.

Bearing an essay eulogizing Chiang by her only daughter Chiang Hsiao-chang (蔣孝章), Chiang Hsiao-chang's husband Yu Yang-ho (俞揚和) arrived at CKS airport from the US yesterday to represent Chiang at today's funeral.

A statement released by Yu yesterday said that Chiang Hsiao-chang, while in mourning for her mother, was unable to make the long journey to Taiwan to attend the funeral due to health concerns.

The statement said that both Yu and his wife would like to first express their gratitude and appreciation for the great love and concern exhibited both internationally and domestically for Chiang Fang-liang and the Chiang family; second, thank the medical staff that had cared for Chiang Fang-liang throughout her latter years; and third, thank the family members who had cared for Chiang Fang-liang before and after her death.

While the Chiang family prepared for the former first lady's funeral today, family black sheep and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator John Chang (章孝嚴) and his wife Helen Huang (黃美倫) left for a "vacation" to Malaysia yesterday, guaranteeing their absence from the funeral.

Chang is the son of late president Chiang Ching-kuo and his mistress Chang Ya-juo (章亞若).