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A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Friday 4 august 2023
Singer Coco Lee mourned by fans and family at Hong Kong funeral

By Kanis Leung was a passionate and kind
Associated Press friend who showed care to
HONG KONG (AP) — Singer us. She was really a good
and songwriter Coco Lee person. That’s why we are
was being mourned by so reluctant to accept she
family and friends at a pri- has left us,” he said.
vate ceremony Tuesday, Award-winning direc-
a day after fans paid their tor Ang Lee recalled his
respects at a public memo- exchanges with the late
rial for the Hong Kong-born singer before the Oscars
entertainer who had inter- and said it was a pity she
national success. died so young. “We miss
Sobs were heard when pall- her very much. Coco, rest
bearers marched solemnly in peace,” he said in the
with her coffin inside the video.
funeral hall before her cre- Lee was the first Chinese
mation. Lee, who died July singer to break into the
5 at age 48, was known for American market, and
her powerful voice and live her English song “Do You
performances. Want My Love” was a 1999
On Monday, scores of fans dance hit. In 2001, she sang
dressed in black had wait- “A Love Before Time” from
ed outside the funeral hall Ang Lee’s movie “Crouch-
in the summer heat, with ing Tiger, Hidden Dragon”
some carrying flowers. The at the Academy Awards,
public memorial service becoming the first Chinese
was also attended by her American to perform at the
relatives and friends, in- Oscars.
cluding singers Elva Hsiao Lee was also the voice of
and Jenny Tseng. Relatives hold a photo of Coco Lee after her funeral in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. heroine Fa Mulan in the
(AP Photo/Billy H.C. Kwok)
Lin Jing, a fan from Fujian Mandarin version of Dis-
province in southeast Chi- ers and other floral decora- entertainment industry, Lee service, actors and singers ney’s “Mulan,” and sang
na, said she admired Lee’s tions were displayed below encouraged Hsiao when from Hong Kong, mainland the Mandarin version of the
smile and appearance, Lee’s photo. she was lost and treated China and Taiwan recalled movie’s theme song “Re-
adding: “She was really tal- Her close friend, Hsiao, said her as “a little sister.” their memories with Lee flection.”
ented. She always tried to during the ceremony that “She brightened my life and mourned her death. She was married to Bruce
improve and she inspired she remembered watch- with her happiness and Action star Jackie Chan Rockowitz, a Canadi-
women to feel indepen- ing Lee’s performances as bravery. I will keep preserv- said in the video that every- an business executive in
dent.” a student and thinking of ing her spirit,” Hsiao said in one was proud of her when Hong Kong, and had two
Inside the funeral hall, three her as a perfect idol. After a quavering voice. she sang at the Oscars. stepdaughters.q
pink hearts made of flow- they became friends in the In a video for the memorial “To friends like us, Coco

Politicians urge Taylor Swift to postpone LA concerts in solidarity

with striking hotel workers

Associated Press cars and risk losing their health care benefits, high-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cali- homes. er pension contributions
fornia’s lieutenant gover- “Hotel workers are fight- and less strenuous work-
nor and other elected offi- ing for their lives. They are loads. Contracts expired
cials on Tuesday urged Tay- fighting for a living wage. last month at more than
lor Swift to postpone her Los They have gone on strike. 60 hotels, including proper-
Angeles concerts as a way Now, they are asking for ties owned by major chains
to stand in solidarity with your support,” they wrote. such as Marriott and Hilton.
striking hotel workers. “Stand with hotel workers Kounalakis, a Democrat
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and postpone your con- who said she will run for
and dozens of state and certs.” governor in 2026, is the top
local politicians signed an Starting Thursday, Swift is official in the state to make
open letter telling Swift that scheduled to perform six the plea. She attended
her tour makes the region’s sold-out shows at SoFi Sta- Swift’s Eras tour in Santa
hotels money, with some dium near Los Angeles. Her Clara, California, accord-
properties “doubling and representatives didn’t im- ing to Politico.
tripling what they charge mediately respond to an Others who signed the let-
because you are coming.” email seeking comment on ter include the mayors
Meanwhile, the letter said, the letter. of several cities, Assem-
many housekeepers and Unite Here Local 11, which bly Majority Leader Issac
Taylor Swift performs at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. other hotel workers can’t represents some 30,000 ho- Bryan and state senators
Friday, July 28, 2023. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco afford to live close to their tel workers, is negotiating Dave Min and Maria Elena
Chronicle via AP, FIle) jobs and some sleep in their for better wages, improved Durazo.q