HONG KONG PEOPLE paid their last tribute to pop star Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing last week with a heavy heart and confused state of mind after his shock death on April 1.
His self-styled image, music and films aside, the departure of a superstar at a high point in his career left many hearts broken and questions unanswered about his inner world before he fell to his death at a Central hotel.
If anything, a brief note he left has struck the raw nerves of Hong Kong people troubled by prolonged economic woes and the health scare triggered by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak.
According to unconfirmed Chinese press reports, Cheung wrote: 'Depression . . . I've done no bad things in my life. Why is it so?'
The reason the legendary artist took his life is anybody's guess. It will never be ascertained.
What appears to be certain is that his death has deepened the sadness and melancholy in our society, albeit temporarily, at one of its most critical times.
