Fans from all over the world on Monday said their goodbyes to singer Coco Lee before she is finally laid to rest.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside the Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point to bid farewell to their idol.

Inside the hall, people entered and bowed in front of a coffin surrounded by purple and pink flowers, and a portrait of the singer with the words: "In loving memory of Coco Lee".

The Hong Kong-born singer took her own life earlier this month at the age of 48 after a long struggle with depression.

A private memorial was held on Monday afternoon and fans were then allowed in to pay their respects.

Fiona Teo, from Singapore, made a last-minute decision to fly here.

“I've been following her since I was 8 and I'm 35 now.

“I was watching her video last night in Singapore. I was having dinner and she was singing ‘You and I’ and at that moment I was feeling like I would regret it if I would not be here. So I immediately booked a ticket and I came to Hong Kong in the next few hours,” she said.

A lot of fans from mainland China also came to pay tributes.

“I learn English, study English, just about her

“My English name is Coco too. Just because of Coco Lee,” Coco from Jiangxi told RTHK.

Tamsin - a long-time local fan - also turned out to pay tribute to the singer.

“I remember Coco used to be based in Taiwan and she would come to Hong Kong maybe once or twice a year.

“I would be the first one waiting for her outside HMV music store, waiting for her and lots of fans screaming at her. She would always be very nice, speaking to us, saying hello to us.

“Thank you so much for bringing us lots of great music and great memories. I really hope she could rest in peace in heaven and all her suffering ends,” she said.

Lee was a groundbreaking star who broke onto the international music scene, and became hugely popular in the mainland and Taiwan, especially in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Among her most notable performances was the Oscar-nominated song "A Love Before Time" from the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" at the Academy Awards, where she became the first Chinese singer to perform at the Oscars.

A private funeral for Lee will take place on Tuesday morning.