Letters | Zheng Shuang pay scandal shows China’s entertainment industry needs better regulation

Ensuring a healthy entertainment industry will involve the concerted efforts of the government, celebrities and fans

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Letters

Published: 2:10pm, 23 May 2021

Why you can trust SCMP

After being embroiled in a scandal related to her two children born through surrogacy, Chinese actress Zheng Shuang is now being investigated by the tax authorities for evading taxes after reportedly making 2.08 million yuan (US$323,500) a day for playing the lead role in a film.

However, this is only the tip of the iceberg of China’s entertainment industry. As the impact of celebrities is today multiplied massively by social media, it is imperative for society to regulate the entertainment industry and ensure that its development is on the right track. This will involve the concerted efforts of the government, celebrities and fans.

First, the government needs to play an active role: on the one hand, it should guide the behaviour of overenthusiastic fans, some of whom are underage and may spend huge amounts of money on supporting their idols or push their friends to do so, putting tremendous financial pressure on their parents.

On the other hand, the government needs to set up relevant laws to regulate the profit-driven capitalists behind celebrities. The colossal gap between the income of celebrities and others is of concern.

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The fundamental solution in the long run is educating the celebrities themselves and improving their ethics, so that they take responsibility as public figures and role models, and watch what they say and do.

Last but not least, the fans should also be educated and guided properly by their parents, teachers and the government so that they do not lose their minds when following their idols.

These steps will help nurture a healthy entertainment industry.

Yuehai Xiao and Xiwen Zhang, Department of English, Hunan Normal University

Keung To and Mirror give Hong Kong hope

I refer to Canto-pop boy band Mirror’s second concert series “One & All Live”, held from May 4-11.

The recent craze in Hong Kong over these 12 boys is touching. While some have dismissed the local music scene as dead, this group seems to have brought about a miracle.

As a middle-aged person, I can’t help falling in love with them. I admire these youngsters for their talent, youthful energy, good character and strong brotherhood. The lead singer, Keung To, is especially humble. It is a rare quality that more Hongkongers should acquire. We fans are grateful to the group’s manager too – Ahfa Wong is capable and open-minded. She is central to the success of the band.

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Our city’s switch from being politics-oriented to star-focused is both welcome and delightful. I am thankful that we finally have some relief from grief and conflict.

I hope this group will have many more days of success and continue to bring joy and hope to our population. Mirror, we are all so proud of you!

Jacqueline Kwan, Sai Ying Pun