People in Hong Kong have taken to social media to mourn Queen Elizabeth II, a woman affectionately nicknamed “chief lady” among the city’s oldest residents who were one of Britain’s last colonies.
Elizabeth visited Hong Kong twice during her reign, while her son, now King Charles III, was present for the handover in China in 1997.
“My grandmother who raised me always spoke of the ‘boss lady’, I heard so much about her that she felt like family… Today it’s like a family member has died,” wrote the Facebook user Vincent Lam.
“It’s the end of an era… Thank you for your life of devotion,” read another post on the Hong Kong Reminiscence Facebook group that garnered nearly 4,000 likes within hours of Elizabeth’s death , the news of which broke overnight in the city.
The UK has seen two major waves of immigration to Hong Kong in recent decades: the first in the run-up to the handover, and the second in the past two years as China clamps down on political dissent.
Many of those who reacted during the night did so from their new home.
“She always (has) our utmost respect… I will miss her,” said Lok Cheung, a popular tech YouTuber from Hong Kong who recently immigrated to Britain.
“Hong Kong Worker”, a cartoonist who has also moved, drew a panel saying to the Queen: “Thank you for giving us a Hong Kong that used to be beautiful.”