A former aide to the wife of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a forerunner of the Chinese democratic revolution, has donated a hoard of the Chinese statesman's personal items to the Sun Yat-sen Former Residence Memorial in Shanghai.

Zhou Hekang, who worked for Madam Soong Chingling, the wife of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the late honorary president of the People's Republic of China, from 1956 to 1981, gave more than 100 articles used by the couple, including Sun Yat-sen's long fur coat and razor and Madam Soong's brushes, handbag and self-designed New Year cards.

The collection was formally handed over at a ceremony, held by the Shanghai government and attended by Zhou and his wife and daughter, to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the death of Soong Chingling.

The Sun Yat-sen Former Residence Memorial was created at the home where the couple lived after their marriage. During their six years there, Sun (1866-1925) completed his magnum opus: Sun Wen Theory and The Industry Program. He also helped to bring about cooperation between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). After he passed away, Madam Soong lived there for another 13 years.

The memorial is preparing an exhibition of the couple's outstanding revolutionary achievements in which the cultural relics will be shown to the public for the first time.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2002)