Bruce Lee Statue - On Sunday, November 27, 2005 the citizens of Hong Kong unveiled a bronze statue of legendary martial arts superstar Bruce Lee who in his early career starred on the American crime drama THE GREEN HORNET/ABC/1966-67.

The monument which stands 2.5-metres (eight-foot-four-inches) tall, and weighs 600 kilograms (1,323 pounds), overlooks Victoria Harbor by the waterfront Avenue of the Stars at Tsim Sha Tsui. Renowned Chinese sculptor, Cao Chongen created the statue for the The Hong Kong chapter of the Bruce Lee Fan Club at a cost of $100,000. The words "Star of the Century: Bruce Lee" are carved on the base.

At the unveiling, Bruce's brother, Robert said "He always wanted to tell people what a person can do to be able to express himself or herself (to) the fullest....I think he really deserves this." The ceremony took place on what would have been Bruce Lee's 65th birthday

A similar statue was dedicated a day before in a city park in Mostar, in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Chinese ambassador to the region, Li Shuyuan was present at the unveiling ceremony held at Mostars central park, close to the former frontline of Bosnia's 1992-95 civil war,

The image of Bruce Lee was chosen as a symbol of unity to fight against ethnic divisions. The base of the Bosnia statue displayed the words: "Bruce Lee 1940-1973. Your Mostar." Unfortunately, that 1.68 meter statue, made by Croatian sculptor Ivan Fijolic, was vandalized soon after the unveiling ceremony.

Bruce Lee in a typical defensive move

TRIVIA NOTE: Bruce Lee died at the age of 32 from a cerebral edema (swelling of the brain) on July 20, 1973. Born in San Francisco while his father was touring with a Cantonese opera company in 1940, Bruce Lee left America soon after his birth but returned to the United States to study philosophy at the University of Washington. He married his girlfriend, Linda in 1964 in Seattle and opened his first martial arts school.

Soon after, Bruce won the role of Kato on the TV series THE GREEN HORNET. He then left American for Hong Kong where he became an international box office phenomenon appearing in such martial arts films as The Big Boss, Fists of Fury, Enter the Dragon and Game of Death.

Both Bruce Lee and his son, Brandon Lee, who died in a freak accident while shooting the movie The Crow are buried side-by- side at Seattle's Lakeview Cemetery, a 40-acre burial site located at 1247 15th Avenue East and Garfield Street, Seattle, WA 98112.