The government has been cracking down on celebrities who commit drug-related crimes and have made an example of Jaycee Chan. (Photo : Reuters)
China is banning film and television entertainers who are proven to be abusing drugs, visiting prostitutes and doing illegal gambling.
If caught in the act committing the said crimes, the artists will be banned from films, television, radio, and advertising materials because their bad behavior will make a bad impression on young people, according to the Chinese government's official media regulator.
Amid the announcement of the ban, China Star Entertainment Ltd. repurchased China Star Movie Ltd. for twice its price in April. China Star sold its production company to Dance Star Group Ltd. for HK$4.3 million (US$554k), Calvin Ayre said.
While it is Hong Kong-listed, China Star Entertainment Ltd. also operates Macau hotel-casino Lan Kwai Fong, which is under SJM Holdings license.
Before the ban, Hong Kong actresses Chang Yi Jiao and Alice Luo Shi were incarcerated in Beijing in May for drug abuse, while actor Huang Huaibo was arrested for hiring a prostitute.
In August, Taiwanese actor Kai Ko Chen-tung and his friend Jaycee Chan, the son of kung fu superstar and 2009 anti-drug ambassador Jackie Chan, were arrested for testing positive for marijuana.
Following their arrest, 16 film and TV companies announced to the public that they pledge not to hire drug abusers, gamblers and prostitute patrons.
In September, award-winning director Wang Quan'an was caught paying a prostitute. While his film "Tuya's Marriage" won a Golden Bear in Berlin, Quan'an's films are among the works that have been banned.
On Oct. 23, Jackie Chan was in Beijing, where his son was arrested, to promote his film "Skiptrace" with "X-Men: Days of Future Past" actress Fan Bingbing, Asia One reported.
Speaking at a press conference, the actor and director also talked about the controversy his son was involved in, saying, "The news you're getting now is exactly the same as the news I'm getting."
"I'm begging you. Don't write some imaginary news that's not news," Chan said, asking the media to avoid hurting "other people, especially Little Fang's mother," referring to his wife Lin Feng-jiao, a former actress. Their son's Chinese name is Fang Zuming.
While avoiding to stoke the controversy involving his son, Jackie Chan admitted that he "used to be an incompetent father" but promised to be "a competent father in future."
