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| Nearly a thousand fans queue up outside Hong Kong Funeral Home. Photos from South China Morning Post |
By Mandy Zheng
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Mourners queued in silence outside Hong Kong Funeral Home, dressed mostly in black with some donning masks. Groups of 30 people each time were allowed into a memorial room, where a photo of the artist and paintings done by her were placed. The displays were surrounded by flowers sent by her friends and relatives.
Loo's body was in a coffin housed in a separate room at the facility, where members of the public did not visit.
Her grieving fans, mostly young women holding hands in pairs, clutched bouquets of flowers while paying a teary tribute to the star's photos.
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| Hong Kong songwriter Ellen Loo was an LGBT rights advocate. |
Loo, who came out as a lesbian last year, was an iconic advocate of LGBT rights in Hong Kong.
The funeral ceremony open to the public lasted from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, followed by a private vigil, with dozens of her friends, including singer-songwriter Khalil Fong Dai-tung and local pop singer Eason Chan Yik-shun, as well as family members showing up at the entrance of the funeral home.
Snow Huang, 22, who has been a fan of Loo for eight years, was among the mourners.
"She has always been my role model and showed a positive attitude to life all the time despite her mental illness," Huang, who is from mainland China, said in a trembling voice.
Loo was diagnosed with bipolar disorder five years ago, and was open in her struggle against the condition. Her sudden death has sparked heated discussion over the quality of care for mental illness patients in the city.
"Now she's gone. This world no long means anything to her," Huang said.
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| Teary mourners pay their last respects. |
Loo was found dead outside her home in Happy Valley at about 9.50am on August 5. Police suspected she had jumped to her death, after investigations revealed nothing suspicious behind the incident.
Another fan at the scene, a 28-year-old woman surnamed Chau, said she believed death was a "relief" for her idol.
"She had inspired so many people who suffer from mental disorders. Her existence in this world itself was an encouragement to me," Chau said.
Referring to the band Loo founded in 2001, she added: "I always feel like at17 aims to share simple happiness with the public. The band has accompanied me growing up since high school."
"She taught me how to face life with positivity," Chau said. "I'd rather think that she is in a happy place now."
Loo will be cremated on Tuesday.
