Communist China was a world apart at the weekend, with government-controlled television and newspapers virtually ignoring the mourning across five continents for two of the most remarkable women of the century, Princess Diana and Mother Theresa.
Throughout almost the whole of Asia, the funeral of Princess Diana was otherwise watched by millions on television, with public displays of grief by Maoris in New Zealand, teenagers in Tokyo and people on the streets of Hong Kong and Singapore.
The funeral was viewed by thousands on a giant screen in Hong Kong's Times Square, and bouquets of flowers with heartfelt messages were laid outside the British consulate. However, many thousands ignored the television coverage to attend the first day of the new racing season at Happy Valley.
Church bells rang out over Australian towns and flags flew at half mast as memorial services were held throughout the country for Princess Diana. More than 2,000 mourners attended a special service in St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne. Floral tributes were placed on the steps of Sydney Opera House.
In New Zealand, Maori Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te wrote a special poem for Princess Diana. "The most beautiful flower has been taken from my garden," she said. In the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, 1,000 people attended a memorial service in St Mary's Anglican Cathedral.
The British High Commission in Singapore said that 5,000 people had signed the book of condolences. South Korean television did not cover the funeral live, however, as it clashed with the country's World Cup qualifying match with Kazakhstan.
Most Chinese people did not have any choice in the matter. Issues of royalty and religion are not high on the priorities of the officially-controlled media. Hundreds of millions of Chinese know little of either Princess Diana or Mother Theresa.
However, many Chinese people visited the British embassy in Guanzhou in Guangdong Province - where Hong Kong television is available - to sign the book of condolences. China has said that unrestricted Western-style press freedoms were to blame for the death of Princess Diana.
In the Philippine's capital, Manila, Cardinal Jaime Sin spoke of Princess Diana and Mother Teresa. "The princess lived in the palace," he said. "Our little nun lived in the shacks of the poor. The princess has made it to the headlines, where her face is seen everyday. Our dear, reverend mother has entered Heaven, where her heart really belonged even while on earth."
The Today newspaper in Manila referred to Princess Diana as "she who made us believe in fairy tales" and to Mother Teresa as "she who made us believe in saints". Media Indonesia said: "The tears are not dry yet because of the death of princess of the people's hearts. Now Mother Teresa, the ambassador of peace, dies."
The News newspaper in Pakistan said Mother Teresa's death in the same week as Princess Diana had deprived the world of yet another of its most committed workers for charitable causes.