When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

Hong Kong

Jackie Chan: Hong Kong Has Too Much Freedom

SOUTHERN PEOPLE WEEKLY (China), MING PAO (Hong Kong)

Worldcrunch

HONG KONG - Martial arts star, Jackie Chan, has kicked up a fuss this week when suggesting that Hong Kong authorities should crackdown on the nation's burgeoning protest movement.

Chan, who was born in Hong Kong, told China's Southern People Weekly: "Hong Kong has become a city of protest. People scold China's leaders, or anything else they like, and protest against everything.

"The authorities should stipulate what issues people can protest over and on what issues it is not allowed," he said.

He also commented on Britain's former colonial rule over Hong Kong, which ended in 1997: "Hong Kong in the British era was not so free. Did you hear so much gossipy news? Were there so many taking to the streets? No. Very well behaved. The British badly repressed us," he told the magazine.

In recent years, residents of Hong Kong have started to take to the streets to protest against China encroaching in Hong Kong affairs.

The movie star's political opinions immediately aroused public outrage in Hong Kong, with one human rights group leader, Wang Haoxian, describing his words as "shameful."

Hong Kong's daily Ming Pao ran an editorial Friday that read: "Jackie Chan the film star may have made it to Hollywood, but his ideology still remains firmly in the Qing Dynasty."

Netizens also expressed their outrage at his comments, posting online comments asking whether Jackie Chan had "water on the brain," or suggesting that "The Hong Kong government should publish legislation restricting Jackie Chan from speaking in public."

[rebelmouse-image 27086103 alt="""" original_size="431x600" expand=1]

Jackie Chan (George Blard)

It is not the first time the kung-fu star has caused controversy. Over the past few years, he has repeatedly made remarks on several occasions about Taiwan's democracy being "a big joke."

Accused of playing up to China, he was continuously expressed his views that Hong Kong and Taiwan have too much freedom, while promoting the reunification of Taiwan and China.

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

That Man In Mariupol: Is Putin Using A Body Double To Avoid Public Appearances?

Putin really is meeting with Xi in Moscow — we know that. But there are credible experts saying that the person who showed up in Mariupol the day before was someone else — the latest report that the Russian president uses a doppelganger for meetings and appearances.

screen grab of Putin in a dark down jacket

During the visit to Mariupol, the Presidential office only released screen grabs of a video

Russian President Press Office/TASS via ZUMA
Anna Akage

Have no doubt, the Vladimir Putin we’re seeing alongside Xi Jinping this week is the real Vladimir Putin. But it’s a question that is being asked after a range of credible experts have accused the Russian president of sending a body double for a high-profile visit this past weekend in the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

Stay up-to-date with the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war, with our exclusive international coverage.

Sign up to our free daily newsletter.

Reports and conspiracy theories have circulated in the past about the Russian leader using a stand-in because of health or security issues. But the reaction to the Kremlin leader's trip to Mariupol is the first time that multiple credible sources — including those who’ve spent time with him in the past — have cast doubt on the identity of the man who showed up in the southeastern Ukrainian city that Russia took over last spring after a months-long siege.

Russian opposition politician Gennady Gudkov is among those who confidently claim that a Putin look-alike, or rather one of his look-alikes, was in the Ukrainian city.

"Now that there is a war going on, I don't rule out the possibility that someone strongly resembling or disguised as Putin is playing his role," Gudkov said.

Keep reading...Show less

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

The latest