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First, it was former Spice Girls Victoria Beckham who was at the receiving end of Hong Kong residents’ ire for her use of simplified Chinese characters in announcing the opening ofher retail outlet in the Special Administrative Region.
Now, their anger is vent on local TV station J5 for its use of Putonghua, seen by Hong Kong residents as subservience to mainland China which changed to simplified Chinese characters. Following the renaming of HD Jade Channel, J5 was the subject of almost 10,000 complaints filed before the local communications authority, reported The South China Morning Post.
The Hong Kong-based daily, however, noted that a large number of mainland newcomers in the region have yet to become familiar with the traditional Chinese characters used there. Rather than be a contentious issue, Hong Kong residents should welcome the opportunity to improve their reading skills of Putonghua.
A spokesperson from the authority pointed out that J5, under the conditions of its license, is mandated to have Chinese subtitles for current affairs shows, weather forecasts and newscasts. It is up to the station to decide the way the subtitles are presented.
J5, owned by TVB, the largest television station in Hong Kong, stressed in a statement of Feb. 23 that the region is an international city and its viewers should have more choices. Using Putonghua better serves the needs of its diverse viewers.
TVB became the center of jokes on Facebook that is has become like the state-owned China Central Television (CCTV) in the mainland, characterized by its being the mouthpiece of Beijing.
One Facebook user, named Caspar Pong Luk, wrote, “Cantonese and traditional characters are part of Hong Kong’s traditional culture. Hong Kong people are proud of inheriting traditional Chinese characters from ancient culture.”
Pong emphasized, “We refuse to use Putonghua and simplified Chinese that do not belong to Hong Kong traditions.” The issue just added to the growing tension between Hong Kong and the mainland.
