Hong Kongers mourn the loss of Queen Elizabeth and the impending destruction of their democracy

Hong Kong residents are continuing to line up for hours to pay their respects to the late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

Mourners sheltered under umbrellas at the British consulate as “God Save the Queen” played softly on a phone.

This gathering is reportedly the biggest display of public support for Her Majesty outside of the United Kingdom.

It’s a stark contrast to reactions seen in most other former British colonies.

The long queues come as Beijing continues to tighten its grip on the city.

In 1842, Hong Kong became a British colony. China was overcome by political instability and distracted by a cultural revolution.

After Britain gave back control in 1997, China made a promise to maintain the city’s civil liberties for at least 50 years.

But the government’s recent crackdown on protests and new national security law seem to paint a different picture.

In Cantonese, Her Majesty was affectionately referred to as si tau por, or “boss lady”. Now, a sense of nostalgia hangs over the city, as many reflect on the “golden days”.