Some observers saw it as a form of protest against China’s growing invasive rules since China annexed the region from the UK in 1997.
Hong Kong: Hundreds of citizens of Hong Kong spend hours every day waiting in line in front of the British Consulate General to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II by leaving bouquets of flowers and personal notes.
In the former British colonies, where mourning has generally been muted, the collective outpouring of grief following her passing last week is maybe the strongest. Some observers believe it to be a form of protest against Beijing’s increasingly intrusive rules after communist Beijing seized control of the region in 1997.
Some Hong Kong residents yearn for what they see as a bygone “golden period” when the city of around 7 million people rose to prominence as a global financial hub and tourist destination under Britain’s undemocratic colonial rule.
In addition to other things, the death of the queen has created a frenzy of interest in British artefacts.
In Hong Kong, the Queen is referred to as “si tau por.” called “see-tao-POHR” That means “boss lady” in the Cantonese spoken locally.
“When she was in charge, we referred to her as’si tau por. Simply said, it’s a sign of respect for her. She didn’t seem like the kind of supervisor who is above you, according to CK Li, a local who stood in line for more than two hours to pay his respects.
80-year-old Eddie Wong, a different resident, claimed she had come “out of sincere feelings” from her heart.
She is adored in Hong Kong, according to Wong. “Because we were very appreciative of her administration and were able to enjoy democracy and freedom. I want to say goodbye to “si tau por” in heaven.
China pledged to preserve Hong Kong’s Western-style institutions and civil rights for at least 50 years when it seized control on July 1, 1997. Many people who were reared in the old territories grew up dreaming of even more liberties.
But in 2019, after many months of anti-government demonstrations, Beijing slapped a strict national security rule on the city in an effort to quell unrest.
Numerous activists have been detained, and news organisations that were thought to be too critical of Beijing were forced to close. The large-scale demonstrations came to an end. Tens of thousands of people from Hong Kong have opted to emigrate to the United Kingdom and other countries, such Taiwan.
So far, the authorities have consented to the calm, solemn displays of respect.
John Burns, an honorary professor of politics and public administration at the University of Hong Kong, speculated that some visitors may be there less out of nostalgia than as a form of protest now that dissent is being quashed.
Some individuals, for instance, who support the universal principles that the UK upholds and which were enshrined into our Bill of Rights after the end of colonialism, could take part in this as a kind of protest, according to Burns.
Given the political climate of the city and its struggles against COVID-19, former Democratic Party chairwoman and ex-lawmaker Emily Lau claimed that emotions are running hot in Hong Kong.
There are some who sincerely miss the Queen and feel sentimental about her, but there are also many who are upset about the state of affairs in Hong Kong, according to Lau.
We can’t rule out the possibility that some people utilised this platform to say such, she added.
Public personalities in Hong Kong are also under scrutiny for how they handled the queen’s passing and risk facing backlash if they are thought to be showing excessive admiration for her reign or for British rule in general.
Hong Kong
commenters on the continent Veteran actor Lau Kar-ying has come under fire from Chinese social media sites for uploading a selfie outside the British Consulate on Instagram with the statement, “Hong Kong was a blessed place under her reign.”
Lau withdrew the post after receiving harsh criticism for attributing Hong Kong’s wealth to British control and posted an apologetic video on the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo. He urged people not to misinterpret what he meant.
“I am Chinese, and I will always cherish my country. I apologise,” Lau stated.
Hong Kong residents are not entirely nostalgic about British rule. Some people object to London’s plan to only award them British National Overseas passports prior to the handover, which do not ensure the ability to reside in the U.K.
“Those who were born in Hong Kong prior to 1997 had their rights removed by the British. Leslie Chan, who stated he had no intentions of paying tribute to the queen, claimed that they failed to preserve such rights. “Hong Kongers were cut off from the discussion when the British administration discussed with China about the future of Hong Kong,” he claimed.
Some people in Hong Kong only pay attention to the final few decades of British control, just before the city was handed over to China. During this time, the city prospered and the colonial authority enhanced its legacy by building new parks, train lines, and other contemporary facilities.
Although there were certain advantages to British rule in Hong Kong, Burns argued that colonialism is ultimately damaging because to its hegemony and bigotry.
“You cannot only consider the last 10 or 20 years in Hong Kong when you’re talking about the positives of colonialism,” he remarked. “You have to consider everything”
