Fans of late Canto-pop icon Leslie Cheung, one of the first singers to come out as gay in Hong Kong, flocked to the city this week to commemorate their idol’s death 20 years ago. Know more:
HONG KONG—Fans of late Canto-pop icon Leslie Cheung, one of the first singers to come out as gay in Hong Kong, flocked to the city this week to commemorate their idol’s death 20 years ago—revisiting his legacy of pioneering work made during a socially conservative time.
Outside of the official exhibits, a steady stream of fans visited the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where Cheung had killed himself. The narrow strip of pavement next to the hotel was completely covered by a sea of flowers, cards, origami and posters. Cheung, who was affectionately known as Gor Gor—“big brother” in Cantonese—produced many hits that even non-Cantonese speaking music lovers in other parts of Asia could sing along to. Those include “Monica,” “Sleepless Nights Restless Heart” and “Chase.” He also starred in classic films including John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow, Wong Kar-wai’s Happy Together, Stanley Kwan’s Rouge and Chen Kaige’s Farewell My Concubine.
Hong Kong fan Connie Leung, a retiree now in her 60s, recalled her disbelief when she first heard about the news of his death from a former colleague. “I said, ‘Don’t make such a joke on April Fools’ Day,’” she said.