Asia-Pacific, Development & Aid, Headlines

CHINA: Olympics Leave Hong Kongers Cold

Helen Clark

HONG KONG, Aug 9 2008 (IPS) - While the whole world tuned in on the spectacular Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing, there was little excitement in this former British colony that was returned to China in 1997.

"It’s not my cab!" driver Lee Tam quickly clarifies. The inside passenger doors are plastered with stickers of Fuwa, the saucer-eyed Olympic mascots, which have drawn scorn and derision in both China and overseas.

A part-time cab driver for over ten years, Lee is unimpressed by the Olympics.

"I was hard-working before," he told IPS, gesturing as he sped the red cab off the entrance ramp. "I think the Olympics are a good thing for China but for me, if it’s not on, it’s not on. If it is, it is. I don’t care… Hong Kong isn’t really involved."

It is a common viewpoint in this autonomous city. One young graphic designer described the Special Administrative Region’s role in the Olympics as that of a "sidekick" rather than a partner or real participant.

Hong Kong is hosting the equestrian events mainly because of outbreaks of equine diseases on the mainland and inadequate quarantine facilities there. Also, the territory is home to a vibrant horse racing culture, a legacy of British colonial rule.

But beyond the big, glossy posters featuring the city’s equestrian team astride horses, public interest has so far been low. Pictures of Fuwa mascots are common, but not overwhelming.

People do gather at the Olympic Piazza set up at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui where life-size Fuwas gambol about on a stage. But the piazza, designed to beam dynamic entertainment and information from Olympic competition sites onto giant plasma screens, seems more popular with foreign tourists than locals.

Hong Kong’s initial disinterest may, however, change with the medal count. ‘’I think Kong Hong people are funny," says Nikki Lau, 28, a film translator who has divided her time between the United States and Hong Kong since her teens. "An earthquake, an international accomplishment then we're all Chinese together. But the rest of the time they're very, very careful to define themselves as from Hong Kong."

"There's certainly a feeling for China. There was such sympathy after the earthquake," a labour rights activist told IPS at a vegetarian dim sum restaurant near Sheung Wan station – a popular area for foreign NGOs and other organisations banned in China. "There were collections held at this restaurant."

The 35-athlete strong team that Hong Kong has fielded for the Beijing Olympics has medal hopes in cycling, table tennis, windsurfing and badminton. In all, the territory is participating in 11 sports including equestrian, swimming, track and field, fencing, shooting, rowing and triathlon.

Though Hong Kong has always ensured freedom of speech and democracy, there have been reports that it has tightened security during the sporting event, refusing entry to three pro-democracy activists prior to the opening ceremony.

A student was removed from the equestrian venue, Saturday, for displaying a Tibetan flag, though flags of nations not competing are banned from events. Pro-Tibet activists were also refused entry in May, during the Olympic torch’s stay in the city.

A few days prior to these events the Hong Kong Association of Falun Dafa had set up what is a regular ‘clarification spot’ near Causeway Bay station. Adherents of the religious group, which is banned on the mainland, handed out leaflets detailing abuses and torture by the Chinese government.

Overshadowed by giant billboards depicting cosmetic brand Shiseido’s latest ad campaign, only a few people stopped to read their placards, but none showed any hostility.

"In Hong Kong we can do this. In China, no," says one leaflet distributor in faltering English.

Spokeswoman for the group, Yee-han Hui, told IPS that "the government has tried administrative measures to limit our activities or our space, but there are no laws.’’

"There’s definitely more freedom in Hong Kong," says Mui Chi Yam who moved from mainland China to Hong Kong 15 years ago. He works as a doorman and security guard in an apartment complex. Unlike native-born Hong Kongers he is excited by the Olympics and thinks not enough of a gap has been bridged since the handover. "I think the Olympics are good, really good," he says. "But we’re better together as one, like one big family. Hong Kong couldn’t survive without China."

"I'm not such a sports fan but I feel that there are a lot of changes for people in Hong Kong and China," said web designer Henry Chu from behind his laptop at a Starbuck’s outlet. "There are such high expectations, everyone's scared something might go wrong."

But not everybody vacillated between indifference and worry. "I just feel good about it (the Olympics)," said Tawa, a shop assistant at a low-cost clothing store. She did not elaborate.