Yiu looks at Hong Kong media

Backrooms column by Dan Hilborn
Published March 12, 2005


Burnaby-Willingdon NDP candidate Gabriel Yiu is resorting to that old standby to raise some money for his campaign - he's hawking a new book on the vagaries of political life.

Media in Tempest: Unraveling the truth of Hong Kong's star pundits going off the air is a Cantonese book that explores why three of that city's top political commentators either quit or lost their jobs in the past year.

"Things are not going well in Hong Kong," said Yiu, the co-owner of a chain of floral shops who has worked on local Chinese language TV and radio shows. "And things are not as they appear."

Yiu has a controversial theory that much of the "sensational" commentary on Hong Kong politics is, in fact, undermining the democratic ideals of the elected government.

"Even though the most outspoken commentators who left last year are considered the most prominent for democracy, my conclusion is that they are doing a lot of damage to Hong Kong democracy," Yiu said. "That's the problem in the Hong Kong media. There's a lot of sensationalism without a lot of rational discussion."

He points to problems such as talk show hosts making accusations without allowing their guests to respond, and one instance of a political pundit accepting an influential legislative post in the "colonial government."

The book, which costs $50 plus shipping and handling, names names and pulls very few punches. Yiu noted that there probably isn't enough of a market to have it translated into English. However, he did float the idea of writing another book on the track record of the B.C. Liberals.

BEST TYPO SO FAR

Democratic Reform candidate Tony Kuo had a couple of very unusual statements on his most recent press release.

The announcement of a fundraising dinner set for last Thursday night was on letterhead that called the party "Demoncratic Reform B.C." - that's right, an extra letter "n" in probably the most peculiar place possible.

The press release went on to make the grandiose claim that supporters from "all ethnic groups" will be on hand to "demonstrate unanimous support" for the party and its candidate.

The event, which was held at the Big Lai Seafood restaurant on Kingsway, brought out DRBC leader Tom Morino, plus the party's only MLA and house leader Elayne Brenzinger. Attempts to contact Kuo and the contact person listed at the bottom of the press release were unsuccessful.

GREEN GATHERING

The Green Party is stirring again, and it's calling all potential volunteers and the curious to an "informal and friendly" get- together on Tuesday night. The Green Party of B.C.'s all-Burnaby meeting will take place at Pedro's Organic and Fair Trade Coffee House, 105-1899 Rosser Ave., off Lougheed west of Brentwood Town Centre, at 6:30 p.m., March 15.

THE 'DOC' LIKES IT

The new leader of the Democratic Reform Party of B.C. is trumpeting a public opinion poll that indicates growing support for his fledgling party.

A Robbins SCE Research poll, released in early February, found 14 per cent of respondents say they intend to vote for DRBC and its leader, Saanich councillor Tom Morino.

"Quite frankly, I am astounded to be getting this level of support so soon after the formation of our party," Morino said