Overwhelming Turnout to Mourn Queen

Davidson's picture of the sea of flowers

In the days following the Queen's death last Thursday, people in Hong Kong have been flocking to the British Consulate in Admiralty to lay flowers. The last few days have had extremely long lines that stretch through nearby Hong Kong Park to Cotton Tree Drive with people wanting to sign the condolence book.

Despite the hot weather advisory, they have been waiting in line for about three hours each day, as the condolence book is available from 10am to 4pm until this Friday.

The British Consul-General Brian Davidson tweeted that over 2,500 condolence books have been filled and he posted pictures of thousands of bouquets placed on the ground by the consulate.

Pictures and notes were also placed at consulate

It's also interesting to note that convenor of the Executive Council Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee came to the consulate earlier today with two bodyguards(!) presumably to sign the book of condolence. Interesting considering she is a staunch pro-Beijing politician. 

Did she not get the memo that Beijing stated Hong Kong was never a British colony?

A few days earlier she posted this tweet:

"Queen Elizabeth II visited Hong Kong two times during her reign. She impressed me as a dutiful and caring monarch, who had weathered many storms but never shunned her responsibilities. She is a symbol of resilience and loyalty to her people and country, May her soul rest in peace."

In any event, local media are suggesting the long lines of people at the British consulate is an unofficial referendum of how people feel about what is happening to Hong Kong, that the onslaught of changes is too much to bear, and they are nostalgic about the past, pre-1997.

People lined up for hours in hot sun to pay respects

The Queen's death has given some Hongkongers the opportunity to openly show their appreciation to the British, though critics say the country didn't do enough to give local people full democracy. Others think then British prime minister Margaret Thatcher gave up Hong Kong too easily and shouldn't have handed it back at all.

Hongkongers have until September 19 to openly mourn the Queen and all things British; once it's over, the authorities will surely be back to punishing those publicly unfurling British flags or seen pining for the UK...