The impact of a great star long gone

Published April 2, 2013
A fan of the late Hong Kong canto-pop star Leslie Cheung cries during a candlelight vigil.
A fan of the late Hong Kong canto-pop star Leslie Cheung cries during a candlelight vigil.
A fan wearing a T-shirt with a portrait of the late Hong Kong canto-pop star Leslie Cheung attends a candlelight vigil in Hong Kong.
A fan wearing a T-shirt with a portrait of the late Hong Kong canto-pop star Leslie Cheung attends a candlelight vigil in Hong Kong.
A tourist poses with a wax figure of Leslie Cheung at Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong on his 10th death anniversary.
A tourist poses with a wax figure of Leslie Cheung at Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong on his 10th death anniversary.
A fan touches a picture of Leslie Cheung on an altar set up outside a hotel where Cheung jumped to his death in Hong Kong.
A fan touches a picture of Leslie Cheung on an altar set up outside a hotel where Cheung jumped to his death in Hong Kong.
Fans of the late Hong Kong canto-pop star Leslie Cheung attend a candlelight vigil.
Fans of the late Hong Kong canto-pop star Leslie Cheung attend a candlelight vigil.
Fans of the late Hong Kong canto-pop star Leslie Cheung cry outside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong.
Fans of the late Hong Kong canto-pop star Leslie Cheung cry outside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong canto-pop singers take part in a concert in memory of the late Hong Kong canto-pop singer and movie idol Leslie Cheung.
Hong Kong canto-pop singers take part in a concert in memory of the late Hong Kong canto-pop singer and movie idol Leslie Cheung.
Singers (L-R) Edmond So, Remus Choy and Calvin Choy from canto-pop group Grasshopper perform during a concert in memory of the singer and movie idol Leslie Cheung.
Singers (L-R) Edmond So, Remus Choy and Calvin Choy from canto-pop group Grasshopper perform during a concert in memory of the singer and movie idol Leslie Cheung.
Hong Kong actor Tony Leung speaks during the concert in memory of Leslie Cheung. Leung and Cheung starred in Wong Kar-Wai's
Hong Kong actor Tony Leung speaks during the concert in memory of Leslie Cheung. Leung and Cheung starred in Wong Kar-Wai's
Raindrops fall on a portrait of late Hong Kong canto-pop singer and movie idol Leslie Cheung outside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
Raindrops fall on a portrait of late Hong Kong canto-pop singer and movie idol Leslie Cheung outside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
A fan adjusts a portrait of Leslie Cheung over a wreath outside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
A fan adjusts a portrait of Leslie Cheung over a wreath outside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
A photograph of the late Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing is displayed next to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, during a remembrance on the 10th anniversary of his death.
A photograph of the late Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing is displayed next to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, during a remembrance on the 10th anniversary of his death.

Leslie Cheung, more commonly known as ‘Gor Gor’ by his fans, played the cruelest April’s fool joke in 2003.

From the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in central Hong Kong, he leapt to his death after leaving a brief suicide note. It might be a relief for the idol suffering from depression, but this irreversible truth has left a void in many hearts.

Cheung, who was 46 when he died, marked an golden era of Hong Kong cinema with his versatile roles in classics such as 1987's ‘A Chinese Ghost Story’, ‘He's a Woman, She's a Man’, cult splendor ‘Happy Together’ by Wong Kar-wai, Hollywood director John Woo’s most acclaimed ‘A Better Tomorrow’, and the award-winning ‘Farewell My Concubine’, which swept international awards including the Cannes.

Each year, hundreds of fans gathered at the hotel where he committed suicide to attend a candlelight vigil. This year, they also sent in volumes of crafted paper to try setting a Guinness record for most origami made for a cause.

In memory of this amazing singer who also reigned Cantopop and Mandopop when he was alive - especially with hits like ‘Chase’ and ‘Monica’ - Hong Kong artists also put together a tribute concert one day before his death anniversary.

It is not hard to believe that ten years from now, those who feel the impact of such void and loss would still seek ways to commemorate, to reminisce and most of all, to remember this great star long gone. —text by Alisia Pek/photos by Agencies

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