By Canadian Press

Former prime minister Chretien hospitalized in Hong Kong with a kidney stone

Jul 11, 2019 | 8:28 AM

OTTAWA — Former prime minister Jean Chretien is receiving treatment for a kidney stone in Hong Kong after falling ill there, says a spokesman.

“Mr. Chretien has a kidney stone,” said Bruce Hartley, a former executive assistant to Chretien. “He will return to Canada following treatment to remove it in Hong Kong.”

Chretien, 85, was scheduled to speak at the U.S-China Trade and Economic Relations Forum in Hong Kong Tuesday.

Instead he was taken to hospital shortly after landing in the semi-independent Chinese territory Monday evening.

Tung Chee-hwa, a former leader of the semi-independent Chinese territory, told attendees at the conference that Chretien would not be able to make it to the event.

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“I want to deliver an apology because Jean Chretien, the prime minister of Canada, he arrived here very late last night,” Tung said, according to a transcript of his remarks. “And we were supposed to have breakfast together. But he has not been well. And as a precaution, we have taken him to a hospital. We think it is going to be all right. So wish him all the best.”

Chretien was prime minister from 1993 to 2003. Expanding trade with China was a theme in Chretien’s time in office and he’s continued working on business links between China and North America since he went back to private life.

Mia Rabson, The Canadian Press