Jiang Zemin Hong Kong journalist incident

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On 27 October 2000, Hong Kong news reporter Sharon Cheung asked Jiang Zemin about his support for then-Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Tung Chee-hwa, who would have been due for re-election in 2002. During Cheung's questioning, Jiang rebuked Cheung for approximately five minutes, calling the Hong Kong mass media "too young," "too simple," and "sometimes naive." The viral video of the press conference has since become a meme in China. Tung was eventually re-elected for a second term. [1]

Contents

Background

On 26 January 1996, the Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established in Beijing. Jiang Zemin, then General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, walked through a crowd of over 150 committee members and shook hands with only Tung Chee-hwa, a gesture interpreted as an 'imperial endorsement', signalling to British and Hong Kong political and media circles that Jiang favoured Tung as the chief executive for the election held that December, which Tung eventually won. [2] [3]

By the year 2000, the political landscape in Hong Kong had shifted unfavorably for Tung, with his popularity steadily declining and opposition growing increasingly vocal. [4] [5]

In October 2000, Tung travelled to Beijing. From the 26th to 27th, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party convened three press conferences at the Great Hall of the People shortly after the conclusion of the 15th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. On 26 October, Qian Qichen, Vice Premier of China, held the first press conference. During this session, a Hong Kong journalist inquired whether the central authorities supported Tung's re-election. Qian Qichen responded affirmatively. Numerous Hong Kong newspapers ran headlines the following day declaring that the Chinese central leadership had endorsed Tung. [6] [7] [8]

Press conference

On the afternoon of 27 October 2000, Jiang Zemin convened his third press conference. At that time, a total of eight to ten organizations were permitted to enter and pose questions, including Hong Kong Cable Television, the Wen Wei Po, the Ta Kung Pao, and the Sing Pao. [8] [9] [8]

Cheung first inquired about Jiang's stance towards Tung, to which he responded in Cantonese that he supported his re-election. Subsequently, Cheung pressed Jiang on the European Parliament report and Chris Patten's assessment of Hong Kong's prevailing situation, which alleged that Beijing authorities were undermining Hong Kong's rule of law and interfering with Hong Kong's elections. [4] [10] Jiang became particularly incensed when Cheung asked if Tung had been handpicked or chosen by imperial decree. [10] [9] [11] He spent approximately three to five minutes rebuking Cheung for her "ignorance", pacing back and forth between his seat and the press gallery several times. He stated that the next Chief Executive was to be selected in accordance with the Basic Law of Hong Kong, clarifying that he had not personally endorsed Tung but merely supported him. [12] [13] [9] [13] [13] [14]

You mass-media people still have a lot to learn. You're so familiar with Western values, but at the end of the day, you are still too young. You understand what I mean? Let me say this: I've been through hundreds of battles. I've seen it all! Which country in the West have I not been to? You people in the media should know America's Mike Wallace. He's so far ahead of you people I can't even see him! Hey, I talked and laughed with him! That's why when I talk about the media... you still need to raise your level of knowledge! You know what I mean? Got it? I'm worried for you all, truly. You people today, I would have expected... Everywhere you go... You guys are good at one thing: Running all over the world, you run faster than those Western journalists. Nonetheless, you ask questions here and there, and they're all too simple, sometimes naïve. Understand yet?

— Jiang Zemin

During his tirade, Jiang attacked Hong Kong journalists, who he stated, in English, were "too young" and "sometimes naive". [12] [15] [16] [17] At the end of his remarks, he told the journalists that he was speaking to them in the capacity of an "elder" and felt the need to "impart some life experience" to them, [14] [12] also warning them that the journalists would bear responsibility for the reporting of false information. [10] [18] [19]

Staff began to escort the journalists out of the room at the end of Jiang's rebuke, at which point he said, in English, "I'm angry!". [18]

Commentary

Academic

Liu Zhaojia, deputy director of the CUHK Asia-Pacific Institute, contends that as the journalist's questions were excessively pointed, and Jiang Zemin could not publicly criticise Qian Qichen for supporting Tung Chee-hwa's re-election, he was compelled to rebuke the reporter. [20]

Media

Jiang's rebuke of journalists drew widespread attention from international and Hong Kong media. [21] [12] Opinions differ as to why Jiang Zemin lashed out at the Hong Kong journalists. Some believe he acted impulsively in the heat of the moment, while others maintain his rebuke was deliberate and calculated. [12] [12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "江澤民逝世：一位長者的死與生，中國網絡「膜蛤」的前世今生". Initium Media . 24 August 2016. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  2. ↑ 王俞 (2 July 2015). "欽點之說 自欺欺人". Oriental Daily News . Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "江澤民握手欽定董建華". Apple Daily . 11 March 2005. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 "江總為甚麼震怒﹖ 事前正談論肥彭及歐洲議會批評". Hong Kong Daily News  [ zh ]. 28 October 2000. p. A02.
  5. ↑ Chandler, Clay (30 October 2000). "Jiang's 'Temper Tantrum' Highlights Tension Over Hong Kong". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  6. ↑ "十六年前那次採访江泽民，让她成了膜蛤教主". Initium Media . 17 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. "（第一天）当时就有记者行家问：'中央支不支持董建华连任？'钱其琛说支持。于是第二天一早，香港报纸就已经大新闻了，报纸头条都说──中央领导人已经钦点董建华连任特首了"，"但好玩的是，有人问了朱镕基'中央是否钦点了'，朱镕基却没有回答"，轮到江泽民的记者会，"就算我不问，其他记者也会问。而当时真是很巧。可能其他同行打算先问其他问题。所以最后的结果，是我问了出来。"
  7. ↑ "十六年前那次採访江泽民，让她成了膜蛤教主". 端传媒. 17 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. 当年10月26、27日在北京的记者会，两天共有三场。第一场在26日，对象是时任副总理钱其琛。第二场在27日上午，对象是时任总理朱镕基。27日下午的第三场才是江泽民。有线电视用抽签的办法决定哪名记者去访哪一场，前两场张宝华都没抽到，于是去了第三场。
  8. 1 2 3 梁美儀 (28 October 2000). "記者被罵得心驚". Ming Pao . p. A1.
  9. 1 2 3 "董指江言論為善意勉勵". The Sun . 28 October 2000.
  10. 1 2 3 "江澤民與記者對答全文". Ming Pao . 28 October 2000. p. A02.
  11. ↑ "記者問「欽點」 江總「發火」". Hong Kong Economic Times . 28 October 2000. p. A02.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ng, Kwai Hang; Kidder, Jeffrey L. (2010). "Toward a Theory of Emotive Performance: With Lessons from How Politicians Do Anger". Sociological Theory. 28 (2): 193-214. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9558.2010.01373.x. JSTOR   25746223. S2CID   145489953.
  13. 1 2 3 "厲斥記者「支持董建華並非欽點」 江澤民發雷霆「我很憤怒」". Hong Kong Daily News  [ zh ]. 28 October 2000. p. A02.
  14. 1 2 "訓斥記者四分鐘指提問天真「I am angry」 江：支持連任不等同 欽點". Ming Pao . 28 October 2000. p. A1.
  15. ↑ Lau, Siu-kai, ed. (2002). The First Tung Chee-hwa Administration The First Five Years of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region. Chinese University Press. pp. xxvii. ISBN   962-996-015-X.
  16. ↑ "Online wishes pour in as Jiang Zemin turns 95". South China Morning Post . 18 August 2021. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  17. ↑ "How Hong Kong journalist berated by Jiang Zemin turned to art". South China Morning Post . 3 November 2016. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  18. 1 2 "問是否「欽點」董連任引發無名火 江澤民怒斥港記者無知". Sing Tao Daily . 28 October 2000. p. A02.
  19. ↑ "江澤民發火責港記". Oriental Daily News . 28 October 2000. p. A1.
  20. ↑ "各界評論江總「訓示」". Sing Pao . 28 October 2000. p. A12.
  21. ↑ Cheng, Joseph Y. S. (2005). The July 1 Protest Rally: Interpreting a Historic Event. City University of Hong Kong Press. p. 226. ISBN   9789629371135.
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