'Gor Gor' fans mark anniversary of star's death
Services held for Canto-pop idol Leslie Cheung, who jumped from hotel's 24th floor 11 years ago
Throngs of Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing fans in Hong Kong and abroad flocked to memorial services yesterday to mark the 11th anniversary of the beloved Canto-pop idol's death.
It was 11 years ago yesterday that the massively popular singer and actor killed himself by jumping from the 24th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Central. News of his suicide shocked Cheung's millions of fans around the world. He was 46.
On The Peak yesterday, bouquets of flowers and wreaths surrounded the wax figure of Cheung at the Madame Tussauds museum. Many were personally delivered by fans from Japan, South Korea, Singapore and the mainland.
"Thank you Leslie for your relentless zeal in your creative works and the inspiration you have brought to us," the message on one wreath read.
Helen Tang, from Sichuan province, said she had travelled to Hong Kong to attend a memorial service at Baptist University, during which videos of Cheung's concerts were to be screened.
"I've been a fan of his since I was 16," said Tong, 28, in Cantonese she had picked up from years of listening to Cheung's music. "I love every single one of his songs and all his movies."
Affectionately known as "Gor Gor", which means older brother in Cantonese, Cheung shocked Chinese communities around the world when he jumped to his death on April 1, 2003.