A Sorrowful Farewell to My Good Friend, National CPPCC Member Zheng Xu

2021.03.02

Tragic news began to circulate in the Shenzhen social circle after the Spring Lantern Festival: Zheng Xu, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Vice Chairman of Harmony Club's Supervisory Board, and Chairman of the Hong Kong Xiantong Investment Group, unfortunately, passed away on February 28 at the People's Liberation Army General Hospital (Hainan 301 Hospital) in Sanya, Hainan.

Zheng Xu was 65, and he had passed away due to diabetic ketoacidosis, from complications of sepsis, after medical treatment failed. It was a sudden departure, and Zheng Xu’s death had left friends shocked and in disbelief. Everyone had expressed their grief, sorrow, and their reminiscence.

Zheng Xu was a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a member of the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th CPPCC of Sichuan Province, a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th CPPCC of Sichuan Province, and the Vice President of the Sichuan Overseas Friendship Association.

Zheng Xu had lived in Hong Kong for over 30 years, and had been actively involved in works facilitating Hong Kong's handover and maintaining the prosperity and stability of “One Country, Two Systems”. He had provided advice and suggestions to the respective national ministries and commissions, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and the Chief Executive. Zheng Xu made positive contributions to the social and cultural development of Hong Kong and has been commended by the HKSAR Government and the Chief Executive. He was engaged in the import and export of petrochemicals and energy trade, and provided supplementary channels for energy imports for regional energy enterprises in Mainland China. As a result, his contributions to the strategic national energy reserves were immeasurable. At the same time, Zheng Xu was also an active participant in charity, education, and medical services, and had donated with other philanthropists to build “Hope Primary Schools”, secondary school campuses, welfare factories for the disabled and welfare homes for the elderly in Sichuan, Guizhou, Henan, Gansu, and other cities.

Zheng Xu was a very good friend of mine. He was a well-travelled man that was highly regarded by our peers in the politics and business arena. He had been enthusiastic and keen to connect and work with fellow entrepreneurs since he joined the Harmony Club.

This is a little known fact, but after Hong Kong’s handover to China, the HKSAR Government had invited the public to give a Chinese name for the Government House, which is the official residence of the Chief Executive. Back then, Zheng Xu suggested the current Chinese name “Li Bin House” (meaning, to entertain guests), and the name was eventually accepted by the HKSAR Government and the Chief Executive. The name was officially adopted by the HKSAR Government and the Chief Executive on July 1, 1998, on the first anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to the motherland; and it has been in use ever since.

When we visited Li Baofang, the former Chairman of Maotai, Zheng Xu recalled a past incident related to Maotai: he was brainstorming about coming up with a new name for the Chief Executive’s residence, so he took out his a 30-year-old Maotai liquor from his collection, and drank a pound of Maotai liquor from 7 pm to 1 am. He was truly inspired during this time, and quickly penned the name and supporting text for the Chinese name of Government House. This story of Zheng Xu naming the Hong Kong Government House was not widely known until a full-page report was published by Wen Wei Poon the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover in 2017. A story like this reflects Zheng Xu’s humility.

Zheng Xu is survived by two daughters and one son. He had nurtured them from childhood, and these talented youths had studied in the U.S. I have faith that they will continue to fight for his father's beliefs, pass on his legacy, and contribute to society and their father's business. Zheng Xu's death is a great loss to his family and company, and it is a great loss to society and friends from all walks of life. The great man is gone, but his legacy shall live on. Zheng Xu, rest in peace, and farewell.

——Dr. Chen Hongtian, a member of the CPPCC National Committee, a Justice of the Peace appointed by the HKSAR, Chairman of Harmony Club, and Chairman of Cheung Kei Group