Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung of Hong Kong died in hospital on Thursday at the age of 73, after suffering liver failure due to cirrhosis.

He had been admitted to Canossa (Caritas) Hospital on December 27, and died the afternoon of January 3.

A board of eight senior members of Hong Kong’s Church administration met on January 4 to discuss the diocese’ future leadership, and decided to hold off on choosing an acting bishop as interim leader of the diocese until after Yeung’s funeral, the South China Morning News reports.