Artists and writers support Occupy. China censors them and invokes “security”
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Actors, pop singers, directors and writers who appear close to the Occupy movement are likely to be marginalized by the rich Chinese market. They want to defend the demands for real democracy, even risking it could mean professional "suicide".
Pop singer Denise Ho (left in photo) for over a month has been pictures among students occupying Harcourt Road, Admiralty. To those who pointed out that this is professional "suicide", she replied: "The students are fighting for genuine democracy, for which Hong Kong has struggled for many years. As adults we have to fight for them".
According to the South China Morning Post, Denise Ho's earnings are 80% reliant on the Chinese market. But the singer is clear that "my first priority is not money or fame ... And if I lose material success, that's okay." Her future - she admits - could be earning a living by opening a coffee shop or a farm. "In the end - she says - now I'm happy to be with the students and with this public".
Denise Ho held a concert at Admiralty with the musician Anthony Wong Yiu-ming (centre in photo) and actress Deanie Ip and wer censored for this in China.
Even actors like Anthony Wong, Chapman To Man-chak (right in photo) and the great Chow Yun-fat shown their support for the democratic movement. In an editorial in Xinhua, they are called "traitors." Their names and their pictures are deleted from the billboards of their films, while newspapers and TV stations are forced to cancel their presence from the line up of their shows.
Chow, who has just finished a film that is to be launched in China, said he is not interested in whether he earns less money or upsets the Chinese government with his sympathy for the young people who are fighting for democracy.
The actors' and singers' attitude is something new in entertainment industry, which usually makes a lot from the billion dollar Chinese market. This is why quite often people working in the entertainment industry have only two possibilities: either say nothing, or say only what China wants to hear.
Again there are people like the kung-fu actor Jackie Chan and director Wong Jing who have quickly lined up in favor of Beijing, against young people in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong actors and singers support however, is not new. In 1989, some singers such as Anita Mui, did a 12-hour concert to raise funds to be used in support of young people who had gathered in Tiananmen Square. But then the Chinese market almost did not exist.
This public
support for democracy and freedom is contrasted by the statements of some Chinese academics, that the protests paralyzed parts of the city and have
upset the social order, undermining the rule of law and security in the territory. "The safety of Hong Kong - they say - is crucial and decisive
for China's national security,
which is the sovereign country of
Hong Kong."
The reference to "national security"
raises fears that in there are those in the Chinese leadership who want a military intervention to restore order in the former colony.
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