CNN Interview Blacked Out in Mainland
Hong Kong’s leader and quite possibly the world’s nerdiest statesman Donald Tsang is at the center of a censorship scandal that hit China’s mainland over the weekend. Saturday, Tsang appeared on CNN International’s Talk Asia where his use of the “d-word” apparently alarmed China’s political censors. And by “d-word,” I don’t mean “dipshit.” As the AP reported Sunday:
During CNN’s Talk Asia program, Tsang was talking about his plans to consult the Hong Kong public on how to bring universal suffrage to the territory. He said he was anxious to address the democracy issue if he wins a second term in office later this month. The show was then abruptly cut to make way for commercials, after which the screen blacked out momentarily. When the show resumed, Tsang was speaking about his relationship with Beijing state leaders.
If your initial thought upon reading this was the same as mine– there’s CNN in China?– yeah, apparently there is in the hotels and apartment complexes for foreigners. Hong Kong, since being handed back to China in 1997, has struggled with the prospect of becoming fully democratic. As it stands now, the “chief executive,” as the leader is called in Hong Kong, is elected by an Election Committee composed of around 850 carefully selected citizens of the territory. The AP points out that most of these voters are “Beijing loyalists.” While Tsang is expected to be elected to another term on March 25th, his opponent, Alan Leong, is running as a pro-democracy candidate and has publicly questioned Tsang’s commitment to democracy. He has not, however, questioned Tsang’s commitment to rocking a bowtie. And no one has asked Tsang what it is like being a Chinese guy who rocks a bowtie. While CNN is busy asking the hard questions about suffrage and democracy, maybe the voters are like me and would merely like to hear Tsang explain to the public why he has made the choice to go with the bowtie as opposed to the standard modern necktie.
•AP: CNN interview with Hong Kong Leader Apparently Blocked in China