King of Tonga dead—report

NUKA’ALOFA—The King of Tonga, George Tupou V, died Sunday in a Hong Kong hospital, the Matangi Tonga Online reported, but there was no immediate confirmation from Tongan authorities.

“It was (in) Hong Kong, and the Crown Prince Tupouto’a Lavaka was there at the hospital just before the king passed away,” the brief report said.

“This news is yet to be officially confirmed but our reliable source informed us that the king was rushed to hospital early this afternoon but it is understood that he had passed away a few hours later.”

Government and royal palace officials in Tonga were not immediately available to comment on the report that the 63-year-old monarch had died.