Letters | Hong Kong’s brownface perception gap: we need to talk about everyday racism

Readers discuss the mixed reaction in Hong Kong to TVB’s use of brownface, and highlight discrimination against Southeast Asians in the city

Reading Time:3 minutes

Actress Franchesca Wong is in brownface in the horror series Barrack O’Karma 1968. The mixed reaction to the use of brownface confirms just how big of a perception gap there can be between ethnic minority and majority audiences in Hong Kong. Photo: TVB

Published: 2:30pm, 25 Apr 2022

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification.

Debate over the TVB series Barrack O’Karma 1968 highlights just how differently segments of Hong Kong society interpret what is racist or discriminatory.

On the one hand, NGOs and migrant worker representatives have criticised the depiction of a Filipino character by a Chinese actress in brownface as based on stereotypes and akin to cultural appropriation. On the other hand, many internet users have been left wondering “what’s the big deal?”, or are lauding the actress’ performance and noting there was no malicious intent behind the portrayal.

While Hong Kong is home to people from all walks of life, this episode is one of many recent and high-profile incidents that confirm just how big of a perception gap there can be between ethnic minority and majority audiences. Hong Kong is a diverse city, but it is still far from inclusive.

Ever since Resolve Foundation released a storytelling campaign on everyday racism in 2018, we have been examining the structural causes of casual discrimination in our society. These subtle, sometimes unintentional behaviours may seem relatively trivial – small social gaffes not meant to cause serious harm.

But when minority communities experience them day in, day out, they add up, sending a message that one does not belong. Failing to address biases at everyday level – as innocuous as they may seem – allows them to fester, laying fertile ground for more structural forms of racism, overt discrimination and vilification.