To send messages of sympathy to the Royal Family over the loss of Queen Elizabeth and to protest the hardline handling of the protests in the city are both meanings.
With flowers, grief and pens to sign a book of condolence at the consulate, some 2,500 people thronged the pavement. The Queen has been referred to by Hong Kong citizens in Cantonese as the “lady in charge” because she was the “boss lady”. The Queen made two trips to the former British colony, first in 1975, and then in 1986 when the territory still belonged to the UK. The queue members want to sign the book. Due to the high number of people wishing to pay respects to the Queen, the Consulate decided to extend the opening hours.
The queue for the book of condolence at the British Consulate will close today at 4pm.Waiting times are currently upwards of 3 hours. Please make sure you bring water and appropriate clothing.
Those wishing to leave a floral tribute only may arrive directly to the Consulate. pic.twitter.com/5WrilBlh8L
— UK in Hong Kong 🇬🇧 (@UKinHongKong) September 13, 2022
For those wishing to pay their respects in Macao a book of condolence for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be opened at the Morrison Chapel at the following times:Wednesday 14 September, 17:00 – 20:00
Thursday 15 September, 17:00 – 20:00 pic.twitter.com/BM3O80dPTg
— UK in Hong Kong 🇬🇧 (@UKinHongKong) September 14, 2022
But apart from paying homage to the UK’s longest-ruling monarch, for many Hong Kong citizens it serves as an opportunity to subtly voice discontent with how China has tightened its grip on what used to be a vibrant and economically liberal city. But ever since the British transferred the territory over to China 25 years ago, citizens and critics felt liberties steadily fade.
Since the introduction of national security law in June 2020 in an attempt to quench the pro-democracy protests that had been rocking the city since the beginning of the year, it has been rare for a mass gathering to be held. The dissent, as well as public and mass gatherings, have been curbed by stringent coronaviruses.
In memory of Her Majesty The Queen, we reflect on her dedication to her role as Head of the Commonwealth. pic.twitter.com/xTJbZwPa2d
— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) September 13, 2022
Showing sympathy to the Royal Family, which had been the symbol of the British rule and, arguably, a freer and more joyful era for the city, some citizens intend to react to Beijing’s attempts to efface the period from the collective consciousness. Local authorities, as reported by CNN, have recently introduced school books that claim the city was never even a colony to begin with. Instead, the books refer to the period of British rule as a “forcible occupation.” “I feel angry that the Hong Kong government is not showing any respect properly [to the Queen]. They’re scared of the Chinese government telling them off, but we were part of the colony,” a retiree by the name of Wing, born in the 1960s, told CNN outside the consulate on Monday. For her part, another queue member, Sylvia Lee, expressed her sadness to hear of the Queen’s death, adding that she was a symbol of stability across the world.
We knew that this day would come one day. She was a respected figure and the government made many contributions to Hong Kong’s development during the 70s and 80s, according to Ms Lee.
Although the colonial period is thought to be more relaxed than the Beijing rule, it had its drawbacks. Riots erupted in the 1960s due to a spike in ferry fares. Protesters are demanding better labour rights. The city was brought to a halt by bomb attacks at times.
The city people were given a series of welfare reforms, including public housing programs and compulsory free education, because of discontent. Critics of the era argue that London overlooked its duty by failing to grant British citizenship to Hong Kong residents at the time of the handover. They didn’t have the right to live and work in Britain with the limited passport that was offered. Since the national security law was introduced, the UK has created new pathways to citizenship through a new type of visa.
Jeffrey Ngo, a Washington-based activist born during the last few years of colonial Hong Kong, told CNN that the Queen’s empire handed us over to China against our wishes in 1997.
pic.twitter.com/U5ph5hcVdg
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 14, 2022
It was on Thursday, September 8, that Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, the nation’s figurehead and a towering presence on the world stage for seven decades, passed away peacefully at her home in Scotland at the age of 96. The funeral ceremony is scheduled for Monday.
CNN and TVP World are sources.