Ever since Hong Kong became a big tourist destination, the image of Hongkies as coarse, rude and greedy seemed to take hold of the Western imagination. I’ve never been a subscriber to this caricature; folks from Hong Kong strike me as down-to-earth, hardworking and pragmatic. If you’re not setting yourself up to be fleeced on the Golden Mile, then the people you meet will respect you if you are respectful.
Hong Kong has also been looked down on for its working class character once you get off Hong Kong Island. For me, this is part of its charm, and for many decades this deceptively well-formed identity was the backbone of one of the world’s three most prolific film industries (along with India and the US). Before it more or less collapsed a few years ago, Hong Kong’s movie industry had the most organic and rapid-response relationship between filmmaker and audience anywhere in the world.
Now all of this is in flux, and Hongkies are in the process of working out what to do with their sub-national identity as Chinese control over local politics and business increases.
But every now and then comes a sharp reminder, like a kick in the solar plexus, that Hong Kong folk still have character and are prepared to exercise it.
Jackie Chan (成龍), enter stage left.
Dear reader, no doubt you have heard about Jackie’s unfortunate comments at the Boao Forum in Hainan last weekend. For mine, I’m surprised they caused so much fuss, because we’ve known for a while that Jackie is much more convincing as a singin’, dancin’, kickin’ celebrity and charity maven than a Beijing flunky.
Still, when the big boys up north want you to talk, you talk. And talk he did: Thanks to Jackie, we now know that ordinary Chinese people need to be controlled and that Hong Kong and Taiwan are chaotic and have too much freedom. Later, with a flourish, he praised Singapore’s kleptocracy for banning chewing gum and accused ordinary Singaporeans of having no self-respect.
Disappointing words, one must admit, though I was much more disappointed when I heard that US President Barack Obama’s daughters did not call their new puppy “Hugo.”
Don’t be deceived by the international news wires. The reaction in Taiwan has actually been quite mute — except among those hunting for political capital, a few bloggers with too much time on their hands and nervous Deaflympics organizers.
And why should that come as a surprise? The Tiananmen Square Massacre hardly registered on the local meter back in 1989; more recently, when Jackie thumbed his nose at Taiwan after the 2004 presidential election, he still managed to visit without getting his teeth kicked in. When the insults fly, my compatriots are made of sterner stuff, it seems; either that or they just don’t give a shit.
The response in China was moderated by the press mostly not reporting the comments (a canny bit of censorship, that), though remarkably candid comment made its way into some outlets, not to mention China’s boundless army of Internet users getting in on the act.
The New York Times, for example, reported that People’s Daily commentator Li Hongbing gave Jackie a serve, while Beijing Institute of Technology economics professor Hu Xingdou (胡星斗) was quoted as saying: “It’s easy to sacrifice freedom when you’re treated like a V.I.P. or some high-level official every time you come to China. … I’m sure Jackie Chan has never thought about the suffering of the little people who have no power.”
But it was in Jackie’s home, Hong Kong, that the response was strongest.
Aside from the pro-democracy politicians, the Hong Kong edition of Apple Daily won my heart by plastering the headline “This slave Jackie Chan” (成龍這個奴才!) across its front page on Sunday (Bloomberg and the New York Times translated nucai (奴才) as “knave”).
And public opinion is now so toxic that Hong Kong’s Information Services Department has pulled Jackie’s road safety ad campaign — and he’s also under pressure as a tourism ambassador.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s entertainers fell over themselves to get on the record.
Industry veteran Eric Tsang (曾志偉) was among the most sober of these, saying Jackie’s comments had to be placed in context of a long history of public blurting — but he still chided Jackie for lack of discipline and suggested he leave Taiwan and Hong Kong out if it (and no wonder: Tsang has made some films here with quality filmmakers, unlike Jackie’s dismal Taiwanese output)
Jackie’s son Jaycee Chan (房祖名) repeated the words of Jackie’s spokesman and claimed the whole thing was taken out of context. You know the drill.
Speaking on Wednesday, Hong Kong’s other big movie export, director John Woo (吳宇森), together with director Joe Cheung (張同祖), agreed with Jackie — but only as far as the entertainment industry was concerned. Fellow director Gordon Chan (陳嘉上) was not so kind.
Even former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa (董建華) couldn’t avoid the storm. Quizzed while appearing at New York University, he simply said he did not agree with Jackie’s theories.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese pneumatic songstress and eternal tween queen Jolin Tsai (蔡依林) found herself answering reporters’ questions in Hong Kong while trying to promote Taiwanese night market cuisine. With a company minder whispering in her ear, what was her response to Jackie’s knee in Taiwan’s groin, according to Sing Pao Daily News online?
“I’m sorry, but he told me not to say anything.”
Well, what the hell did you expect from Jolin?
So often Taiwanese seem to think that they have a lot to teach Hong Kong but, if anything, what the fuss over Jackie Chan has shown us is that Hong Kong has a lot to teach Taiwan ... starting with our vapid entertainers.
After digesting all of this, and after looking back over the last 20 years, I conclude that Hongkies are the only true Chinese patriots. Why? Because they frequently come together in force to support a strong China that has dignity and civility. They overcome northern prejudice toward the barbarian south and offer role models of civic pride. They mobilize in huge numbers to support human rights and remember Tiananmen Square Massacre victims. And (Matsu be praised) they have student activists who actually believe in something.
On an individual level, Hong Kong is packed with people who are prepared to strike back when their own kind offend their sensibilities. That’s more than you can say for most of this region of the world — including Taiwan, where heat in the legislature throws little light on the thoughts and priorities of your average Chou.
Hong Kong’s economy may be struggling as Shanghai expands beyond all recognition and the Pearl River Delta farts its industrial pollution all over Victoria Harbour, but I am confident that Hongkies will find a way, regardless of Chinese meddling. They always do.
No wonder the three daughters of the last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, openly wept side by side on the day before Handover. They were leaving the best home they would ever know.
As for poor old Jackie, who can’t even use drunkenness as an excuse for his latest musing on the Chinese psyche, old Johnny humbly suggests he do penance and mark the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre by wandering down to his local library, locating the audiovisual section and borrowing a copy of River Elegy, the groundbreaking and scapegoated Chinese TV documentary/tract that was telecast there the year before the killings.
He should then submit a 3,000-character essay to Johnny on the following topic: “Unlike in the 19th century, the ‘barbarians’ in China today are friends, not foes. More importantly, China won’t go anywhere with its power, money, injured culture and reconfigured grudges until it gets over its race fixation and learns to appreciate the ‘barbarian’ within. Discuss.”
Got something to tell Johnny? Go on, get it off your chest. Write to johnnyneihu@gmail.com, but be sure to put “Dear Johnny” in the subject line or he’ll mark your bouquets and brickbats as spam.
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