A New York memorial service for Madame Chiang Kai-shek, who died there last week, will be held on November 5.

　　A family spokeswoman has said she didn't want to invite Taiwan's leader Chen Shui-bian to the memorial be-cause of their deep political differences.

　　According to a Taiwan news agency, the Chiang family has decided to hold the service at St. Bartholomew's Church in Manhattan. Madame Chiang, also known as Soong Mei-Ling, died at her New York home last Thursday, 105.

　　She was the widow of Chiang Kai-shek, the president of the government that ruled China until defeated by the People's Liberation Army and retreating to Taiwan Province in 1949.Madame Chiang moved to New York after her husband died in 1975. There were earlier media reports that relatives were planning to hold the memorial service during the weekend so Chen could attend.

　　But some relatives opposed the arrangement because of ideological differences between Chen and the Chiang family. Unlike the Chiangs, Chen leans toward keeping island "independent" from China.

　　The Chiang family has yet to announce funeral arrangements. Local media have reported that Madame Chiang wanted to be buried at Ferncliff cemetery in New York. Her husband's remains are still in Taiwan.

　　In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokes-woman Zhang Qiyue said yesterday that Chinese Ambassador to the United States Yang Jiechi will extend condolence to Madame Chiang's death on behalf of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.