Ophthalmologist Yao Xiaoming (R) seen with four recipients of the corneas donated by the late Shenzhen singer-philanthropist Cong Fei. Yao carried out the cornea transplant operation on the 4-year-old Hong Meilin (2nd R) yesterday morning at the Shenzhen Ophthalmology Hospital. (More on Page 3) Zhao Qing, Chen Yuanzhong

Ceremony to bid farewell to Cong

Peopole will pay their last respects to Cong Fei, who moved China last year with his benevolence, at the Shenzhen Funeral Home from 10 a.m. today.

Cong died of gastric cancer Thursday.

Cong's body will be cremated after the half-hour memorial ceremony, but the memorial hall will be open until 4 p.m. for residents wishing to pay their last respects, the Shenzhen Evening News said yesterday.

More than 56 institutions, including CCTV, have sent wreathes to commemorate Cong, while the city had received 200 messages of condolence from all over the country till yesterday.

Two children sponsored by Cong will arrive in Shenzhen to bid farewell to their "father" on behalf of all children aided by the philanthropist.

The two will also be present at a large party tonight to tell stories about Cong.

Qu Zaixing, chief of the city's cancer rehabilitation center, said the center had submitted a proposal to the national rehabilitation center calling on the country's 100,000 cancer patients to learn from Cong's brave battle against cancer.

Qu said the center will recount Cong's story to more than 1,600 cancer patients from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan at a meeting in Hong Kong in May.

The city's volunteers association said it had received a number of calls from residents who offered to donate money to Cong's family.

Residents going to the ceremony are advised not to drive there, as roads in the area will be blocked. Instead, they can take buses 351, 357, 361, 365, 661, 812, 863, 865, 870 and 943 to Jitian Cemetery, or take free shuttle buses from the Futiannan Bus Terminal in Futian, Reservoir Bus Terminal in Luohu and Nantou Bus Terminal in Nanshan.

Editor: Yan