The photos, which quickly went viral online, provoked a Foreign Ministry response. "Kenny G's musical works are widely popular in China, but China's position on the illegal Occupy Central activities in Hong Kong is very clear," ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. "We hope that foreign governments and individuals speak and act cautiously and not support Occupy Central and other illegal activities in any form." She didn't say whether she was a fan.

Kenny G was quickly denounced on local social media for "kowtowing" to Beijing. I see nothing wrong with his position. "I don't really know anything about the situation," he said. "My impromptu visit to the site was just part of an innocent walk around Hong Kong."

It's probably true that he knows nothing about Hong Kong politics, even less about our constitutional reform debate. I know many foreigners have expressed support for the movement without knowing the first thing about our city. I don't see how their ignorance is praiseworthy just because they say they support Hong Kong democracy. Entertainers and celebrities are frequently drawn into controversies for supporting or not supporting this or that political cause that they may know little about. Does it matter that Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto supports the movement while Kenny G doesn't?

Many of those in the movement are so self-righteous that they think people who don't support them are cowards, paid agents, or just plain evil. It's time for them to learn that many reasonable people don't like what they are doing and don't share their beliefs.