In Hong Kong, public grief over the queen is doubling as dissent

• Hong Kong residents are lining up for hours each day to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II.
• The outpouring of grief is perhaps the most ardent among former British colonies.
• It’s seen by some as a form of dissent against intrusive controls by communist-ruled Beijing.

Hundreds of Hong Kong residents queue for hours each day in front of the British Consulate General to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II, leaving piles of flowers and handwritten cards.

The collective outpouring of sadness across the former British colonies following her death last week is possibly the most fervent. Some observers regard it as a form of resistance against Beijing’s increasingly intrusive rules since communist-ruled Beijing took over the territory in 1997.

Some Hong Kong residents yearn for a “golden age” under Britain’s not totally democratic colonial rule, when the city of nearly 7 million people rose to prominence as a global financial hub and tourism destination.

The passing of the Queen has inspired a surge of interest in British memorabilia, among other things.

In Hong Kong, the Queen is known as “si tau por.” In the native Cantonese dialect, it is pronounced “see-tao-POHR,” which translates to “boss woman.”

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“When we were under her reign, we used to call her’si tau por.’ It’s merely a method of expressing gratitude to her. “There was a feeling of friendliness from her; she’s not the kind of boss that is above you,” CK Li, a resident who stood in line for nearly two hours to pay his respects, said.

Another resident, Eddie Wong, 80, claimed she came “out of sincere feelings” in her heart.

“People in Hong Kong love her,” Wong said. “Because when we were under her rule, we enjoyed democracy and freedom and we were very grateful. I want to bid farewell to ‘si tau por’ who is in heaven.”

With its takeover on July 1, 1997, China committed to preserve Hong Kong’s Western-style civil rights and institutions for at least 50 years. Many people who grew up in the old area hoped for even more liberties.

However, after months of anti-government rallies in 2019, Beijing slapped a strict national security law on the city in an attempt to quell public opposition.

News outlets that were judged too critical of Beijing were forced to close, and scores of activists were jailed. The protests came to an end. Tens of thousands of Hong Kong people have chosen to relocate to the United Kingdom and other countries, including Taiwan.

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