A private memorial service will take place but neither the time, nor the location have been announced. Police officers surround Zhao's house where some relatives and friends were allowed to pay their respect.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – "In recent years, we have reformed and simplified our [official] funeral arrangements. We no longer hold memorial services and only hold farewell activities for the body," a State Council Information Office statement said.

"We will follow this format for Comrade Zhao Ziyang, who was a veteran member of our party. Authorities will make arrangements in consultation with Comrade Zhao's family."

The funeral of the former party secretary, who fell out of favour after the Tiananmen massacre, will thus be very low-key.

In Beijing rumours have it that the authorities will allow the funeral to go ahead but want to keep it secret and private.

Hong Kong's Mingpao newspaper quoted Mr Zhao's family as saying that the ceremony will take place in western Beijing's Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, where middle- to high-ranking party cadres are often buried. It is not clear whether any national leader will attend the funeral

On Monday and Tuesday, only relatives, friends and former colleagues were allowed to pay tribute. Yesterday, under the gaze of security agents, some people were able to file past a portrait of the late Communist Party leader in the courtyard of his home and say their farewells. At his family's request, police agreed not to record the identities of mourners. Some mourners who were not allowed in but posted messages on a wall.

Former student leader Ma Shaofang yesterday managed to pay his respects to the late Zhao Ziyang. Speaking from Zhao's house, he said: "I am very sad that society has not done him justice." Other prominent dissidents were kept forcibly at home.

Veteran dissident Liu Xiaobo doubted he would be allowed to pay his respects. "From experience, I am certain I cannot go out," he said.

Ding Zilin, a retired People's University professor whose son was killed in 1989 and who is president of the Mothers of Tiananmen movement, said that "plain-clothes police came. I cannot go out and the media cannot come to my home."

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