The bok choy band? Elderly Hongkonger serves up word salad as coupon contest answer when asked to list music groups
- Television host asked caller to name as many bands as possible in 15 seconds, but she appears to mix up similar sounding words ‘singing’ and ‘vegetable’ in Cantonese
- Amusing interaction, which caught attention of local media, prompts companies to incorporate snippets of exchange into advertisements
A short clip featuring a confused elderly Hongkonger has gone viral, as she rattled off names of vegetables when challenged by a television host to name as many music bands as possible in 15 seconds.
The amusing interaction also prompted businesses to incorporate snippets of the exchange into their advertisements.
During the Magasenior programme, which aired in January on RTHK Radio 5 and the public broadcaster’s TV channel, an elderly woman surnamed Lam was challenged by the host of the show to name as many music groups as possible within 15 seconds to win supermarket coupons.
But in a moment of confusion, she seemed to have mixed up the words “singing” and “vegetable” in Cantonese, which sound slightly similar. The elderly woman reeled off an assortment of vegetables, despite the host repeatedly interjecting and correcting her.
“Choy sum, cabbage, mustard greens, garland chrysanthemum, spinach, lettuce,” she said, listing off the items.
Businesses including big names such as Swedish furniture giant Ikea and local rail operator the MTR Corporation were quick to pick up on the viral incident. Both rolled out advertisements on Friday referencing the clip after it caught the attention of some online media outlets.