Present there were members of the state funeral committee including Kim Yong Nam and Kim Yong Chun, officials concerned and members of the bereaved family.

Before the start of the funeral procession members of the state funeral committee and members and relatives of the bereaved family paid silent tribute to him.

Amid the playing of a dirge the funeral cortege left for the burial site at 8 a. m.

A funeral service was held at the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery on the outskirts of Pyongyang.

A condolatory address was made by Choe Thae Bok, alternate member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C., the WPK.

He said that Hong single-mindedly remained boundlessly loyal to President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il all his life and was loved and respected by the Party members and other people for his spirit of devoted service to the country and its people, the revolutionary principle and modest personality.

His life was a worthy one as he had the greatest honor of being a revolutionary soldier and glorified it thanks to the deep political trust and loving care of the Party and the leader, the speaker noted, adding that the people of the DPRK would remember him for having devoted his life to the strengthening and development of the Party and the victory of the revolutionary cause of Juche.

The remains of the deceased were buried in the grave.

A wreath sent by Kim Jong Il was placed there.

Also laid there were wreaths from the C. C., the WPK, the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, the DPRK Cabinet and other units.

The participants in the funeral paid silent tribute to the deceased.