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Call of Nature Becomes a Call to Arms in Hong Kong Call of Nature Becomes a Call to Arms in Hong Kong
(4 months later)
HONG KONG — A mainland couple’s decision to let their child urinate in public last month set off a video-recorded tussle on a street here, igniting a social media uproar that became a proxy battle for a larger question: Is Hong Kong, a former British colony, now being colonized by mainland China, whose visitors increasingly flood the territory with their money and alien manners as Beijing seeks to impose its political control? HONG KONG — A mainland couple’s decision to let their child urinate in public last month set off a video-recorded tussle on a street here, igniting a social media uproar that became a proxy battle for a larger question: Is Hong Kong, a former British colony, now being colonized by mainland China, whose visitors increasingly flood the territory with their money and alien manners as Beijing seeks to impose its political control?
The video started a cross-border debate over Beijing’s dominance of the territory and Hong Kong’s fealty to its political overlord, and came just as China is considering whether to grant Hong Kong more say over choosing its leaders, with protest groups prepared to act if China does not loosen its grip.The video started a cross-border debate over Beijing’s dominance of the territory and Hong Kong’s fealty to its political overlord, and came just as China is considering whether to grant Hong Kong more say over choosing its leaders, with protest groups prepared to act if China does not loosen its grip.
In the video, the toddler’s parents confronted a man who used his cellphone to record the urinating child. After the mother was charged with trying to steal the man’s cellphone, mainland Chinese initially accused him of perversion for recording the child, and then veered into a larger indictment of Hong Kong residents as lacking patriotism for being inhospitable to the tens of millions of Chinese whose money fuels the territory’s robust economy.In the video, the toddler’s parents confronted a man who used his cellphone to record the urinating child. After the mother was charged with trying to steal the man’s cellphone, mainland Chinese initially accused him of perversion for recording the child, and then veered into a larger indictment of Hong Kong residents as lacking patriotism for being inhospitable to the tens of millions of Chinese whose money fuels the territory’s robust economy.
“I bet most of these ‘proud’ HK-ers with their indignation of China rule would be only too happy to lick the boots of ‘proud HK’ former master, Britain, and kiss Queen’s hand while at it,” wrote one commenter responding to a post about the tensions on The New York Times’s Sinosphere blog.“I bet most of these ‘proud’ HK-ers with their indignation of China rule would be only too happy to lick the boots of ‘proud HK’ former master, Britain, and kiss Queen’s hand while at it,” wrote one commenter responding to a post about the tensions on The New York Times’s Sinosphere blog.
The argument about the child’s behavior comes as local attitudes toward Beijing appear to be hardening. A poll of Hong Kong residents conducted in December by the Hong Kong Transition Project and released Tuesday showed rising dissatisfaction with Beijing’s handling of the territory’s affairs, particularly among young adults, with four-fifths of respondents ages 21 to 29 saying they were dissatisfied, and a strong majority of them identifying more with Hong Kong than with China.The argument about the child’s behavior comes as local attitudes toward Beijing appear to be hardening. A poll of Hong Kong residents conducted in December by the Hong Kong Transition Project and released Tuesday showed rising dissatisfaction with Beijing’s handling of the territory’s affairs, particularly among young adults, with four-fifths of respondents ages 21 to 29 saying they were dissatisfied, and a strong majority of them identifying more with Hong Kong than with China.
Underlying local hostilities toward mainland Chinese are the economic pressures brought by a flood of cash into the territory. Not only are wealthy mainland Chinese accused of driving up real estate values, but their free-spending ways — encouraged by the absence of sales taxes in Hong Kong and favorable long-term currency valuations — have been blamed for widespread inflation. The minimum wage here is about $4 an hour, but prices for common household goods approach those found in a New York supermarket.Underlying local hostilities toward mainland Chinese are the economic pressures brought by a flood of cash into the territory. Not only are wealthy mainland Chinese accused of driving up real estate values, but their free-spending ways — encouraged by the absence of sales taxes in Hong Kong and favorable long-term currency valuations — have been blamed for widespread inflation. The minimum wage here is about $4 an hour, but prices for common household goods approach those found in a New York supermarket.
Rachel Cartland, a former Hong Kong official who once oversaw its social welfare system, said local residents have seen their shops increasingly stock higher-priced items geared toward mainland Chinese buyers.Rachel Cartland, a former Hong Kong official who once oversaw its social welfare system, said local residents have seen their shops increasingly stock higher-priced items geared toward mainland Chinese buyers.
“People find that the shops they used to go to, the composition has changed,” she said. “They’ve turned into shops dedicated to mainland Chinese.”“People find that the shops they used to go to, the composition has changed,” she said. “They’ve turned into shops dedicated to mainland Chinese.”
She also likened the antagonism Chinese encounter to that found by American tourists during the post-World War II years in Europe, when America swaggered with political and economic clout, much as China does in Asia today.She also likened the antagonism Chinese encounter to that found by American tourists during the post-World War II years in Europe, when America swaggered with political and economic clout, much as China does in Asia today.
“America was very dominant politically and economically, and their tourists were often unfairly regarded as ‘ugly Americans,’ ” she said, known for flashy clothes and boorish manners that ignored local customs.“America was very dominant politically and economically, and their tourists were often unfairly regarded as ‘ugly Americans,’ ” she said, known for flashy clothes and boorish manners that ignored local customs.
The recording of the child’s behavior was the latest in a string of videos and pictures that have documented questionable behavior, with web pages like “Spot the Mainlander” drawing torrents of angry, mocking commentary. With so many Chinese tourists traveling throughout Asia and elsewhere, the government recently issued guidelines on how to behave in foreign countries that included tips like refraining from spitting on the street or from shouting in public areas.The recording of the child’s behavior was the latest in a string of videos and pictures that have documented questionable behavior, with web pages like “Spot the Mainlander” drawing torrents of angry, mocking commentary. With so many Chinese tourists traveling throughout Asia and elsewhere, the government recently issued guidelines on how to behave in foreign countries that included tips like refraining from spitting on the street or from shouting in public areas.
The incident involving the child is two weeks old, but the passions surrounding it are not dying down. Last week, a protest against mainlander behavior drew 30 people who mimicked the toddler’s act; social media sites said a counterdemonstration was in the works by people who planned to relieve themselves in the street. Even the prospect of such a protest led to warnings from local officials.The incident involving the child is two weeks old, but the passions surrounding it are not dying down. Last week, a protest against mainlander behavior drew 30 people who mimicked the toddler’s act; social media sites said a counterdemonstration was in the works by people who planned to relieve themselves in the street. Even the prospect of such a protest led to warnings from local officials.
“The law in Hong Kong prohibits anyone from littering or urinating in public,” said Ko Wing-man, the territory’s secretary for food and health. “I am not criticizing any race or nationality. The law and this principle will be implemented fairly.”“The law in Hong Kong prohibits anyone from littering or urinating in public,” said Ko Wing-man, the territory’s secretary for food and health. “I am not criticizing any race or nationality. The law and this principle will be implemented fairly.”
On Wednesday, in a reflection of concern in Beijing about the passions in Hong Kong, the state-run media on the mainland chimed in. The Global Times newspaper said in an opinion piece that “skinheads” had organized last week’s protest, and that “in Hong Kong social media, slapstick postings about ‘toddlergate’ are going viral again.”On Wednesday, in a reflection of concern in Beijing about the passions in Hong Kong, the state-run media on the mainland chimed in. The Global Times newspaper said in an opinion piece that “skinheads” had organized last week’s protest, and that “in Hong Kong social media, slapstick postings about ‘toddlergate’ are going viral again.”
“This incident, which should have been over and forgotten, was surprisingly reignited by some Hong Kong radicals,” the piece said. “Humiliating mainlanders must be the only aim these protesters were trying to achieve. But it turns out that who they embarrassed and humiliated was nobody but themselves and all of Hong Kong society. Hong Kong’s image was badly tarnished by them.”“This incident, which should have been over and forgotten, was surprisingly reignited by some Hong Kong radicals,” the piece said. “Humiliating mainlanders must be the only aim these protesters were trying to achieve. But it turns out that who they embarrassed and humiliated was nobody but themselves and all of Hong Kong society. Hong Kong’s image was badly tarnished by them.”