Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing (real name Cheung Fat-jung) died in an apparent suicide after jumping off from the 24th floor of a hotel on Tuesday 1 April. A suicide note was found on his body, and his death was believed to be associated with emotional stress. Medics had tried to revive him but to no avail. He was certified dead at 7.06pm.

Cheung was gay, although he often denied it in the past, and had lived with his lover in Ho Man Tin. His closest friends said that the pop star had not been himself lately but expressed their shock of his suicide. For the past several months, Cheung had composed and recorded songs for a new album to be released at the end of the year, so the suicide defies belief.

Cheung was born in 1956 in Hong Kong and was the youngest of ten siblings. He was sent to England to study at a young age, but had to drop out of university when his family recalled him to Hong Kong. Back into a place he was not familiar with, Cheung found it difficult looking for a suitable job. It was when his friend decided to enter a music singing contest that Cheung joined him. It could be said that destiny called him.

The contest took place in 1977 and Cheung became runner-up after singing a long renditon of American Pie. Since then he appeared in dozens of television dramas before getting his biggest break when he performed a song called "Monica" in 1984. A year later, he held his first solo concert and ever since was known as the darling boy of Hong Kong. His boyish good looks, charming smile, and a sweet voice won the hearts of thousands of girls across the globe. However, his non-complying attitude was often attacked by the media for being arrogant and aloof, and he was forever compared with his rival Alan Tam.

Cheung slipped out of the music industry during the late 80s and concentrated on his film career which earned him numerous awards. A Better Tomorrow, Rouge, A Chinese Ghost Story, Farewell My Concubine, Ashes of Time, Viva Erotica and Happy Together are just a number of the critically acclaimed films that Cheung had starred in.

He was recently nominated for a Best Actor award for his role in Inner Senses at the Hong Kong Film Awards, to be shown on 6 April, 2003. He will be missed by many.

On Monday (7 April) night, hundreds of his friends turned up at the Hong Kong funeral parlour in North Point to give their respects. Thousands of fans were braving the rain to queue to see their idol for the last time. Come Monday morning, the scene repeated itself with many of Leslie's friends and celebrity personnel saying their goodbyes and following the hearse to the cemetary where Leslie's body will be cremated.

Hundreds of fans from all over Asia also said their goodbyes, many weeping openly, some still shocked and numb, not believing this sad tragedy has happened. Leslie's lover Tong Tong, who has known Leslie for 20 years, was the person who pressed the button which initiated the cremation process. His grief, heartbreak and sorrow could be seen on his face, as on most of Leslie's friends and family.

PROFILE:

Name: Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing
Real Name: Cheung Fat Jung
Born: 12 September, 1956, Hong Kong
Died: 1 April, 2003, Hong Kong

SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY:

2002 Inner Senses
2000 Double Tap
2000 Okinawa Rendez-Vous
1999 Moonlight Express
1998 Red Lovers
1998 Anna Magdalena
1998 Ninth Happiness
1997 Happy Together
1996 Shanghai Grand
1996 Tempress Moon
1996 Viva Erotica
1996 Who's the Woman, Who's the Man
1996 Tri-Star
1995 Phantom Lover, The
1994 Long and Winding Road
1994 Ashes of Time
1994 It's a Wonderful Life
1994 Chinese Feast, The
1994 He's a Woman, She's a Man
1993 All's Well, Ends Well Too
1993 Eagle Shooting Heroes, The
1993 Farewell, My Concubine
1992 All's Well, Ends Well
1992 Arrest the Restless
1991 Once a Thief
1991 Banquet, The
1990 Chinese Ghost Story Part II, A
1989 Aces Go Places V: The Terracotta Hit
1988 Dragon Family
1987 Better Tomorrow II, A
1987 Chinese Ghost Story, A
1987 Rouge
1986 Better Tomorrow, A
1985 For Your Heart Only
1984 Double Decker
1984 Fate
1983 Merry Christmas
1983 Little Dragon Maid
1983 Drummer, The
1982 First Time
1982 Teenage Dreamers
1982 Last Song in Paris
1982 Crazy Romance

Leslie's two nieces hold a portrait of Leslie. His lover Tong Tong (second from right) looks on with anguish.

A grief-stricken Anita Mui has to be held up by two friends.

Lydia Shum in sombre mood with Nicholas Tse in the background.


Tony Leung Chiu Wai comforts girlfriend Carina Lau.


Friends and family walking out of the parlour with the coffin. Jacky Cheung, Tsui Hark and Tony Leung Ka Fai can be seen holding the coffin.

The hearse leaving the parlour with hundreds of people saying their goodbyes.