Opinion | Perhaps the TV show Expats did not portray Hong Kong as it likes. So what?
- Whatever the reasons the Amazon Prime Video series, which includes scenes of the 2014 protests, is not available for viewing in Hong Kong, officials should take the opportunity to reflect on the role they play in any misperceptions of the city
It gave preferential treatment for a foreign production that portrayed Hong Kong in a not-so-flattering light. Whatever point Wang meant to make by including images of the protests doesn’t matter, though. Any mention of black-clad protesters and yellow umbrellas would usually elicit a rash response from the government and its supporters, but the reaction to Wang’s latest work is actually rather tempered.
The government really cannot be so naive as to think that the creators were going to film propaganda for Hong Kong, but for the series to be viewable everywhere except here makes it seem as though it has been censored.
The government has not given any indication it had a role in the miniseries not being available to watch in Hong Kong. Amazon has yet to give any explanation for its business decision, but it does give the government something to think about. The next time it bends over backwards like it did for Kidman, it should think again.