Two very different New Year messages: CY Leung and US Consul General Clifford Hart release videos
Two contrasting messages were delivered on video this Lunar New Year. On the one hand, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying took the opportunity to mark himself out as a man of the people by getting his hands dirty mixing traditional turnip cakes with a group of chefs using ‘recycled’ ingredients before eating them with elderly residents in need.
Two contrasting messages were delivered on video this Lunar New Year.
On the one hand, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying took the opportunity to mark himself out as a man of the people by getting his hands dirty mixing traditional turnip cakes with a group of chefs using ‘recycled’ ingredients before eating them with elderly residents in need.
His oft repeated theme was ‘sharing’ – a message that could well be levelled at Hong Kong’s wealthy elite. With its soft focus and warm fuzzy colours Leung’s video is a fine example of how to project soft power, inspired perhaps by Xi Jinping’s undoubtedly spontaneous visit to Beijing restaurant serving squidgy savoury buns last month.
On the other hand, US Consul General Clifford Hart, takes the Year of the Horse a bit too literally in his message. Featuring Hannah the Horse, a finger puppet of the US government who wants to join the consulate’s car sharing scheme as a “one-horse power; green alternative, the lengthy video message appears pitched towards Hong Kong’s under fives in both tone and delivery.
The consul and members of his staff address the diminutive equine puppet as if it were an applying for a green card. It tries very hard to tick all right boxes as Hannah endures a series of stilted interviews from staff as she does her best to prove her value.
