The march of friendly jackboots
AS a long-time resident of Hong Kong, I have noted many changes over the past 15 years, some good, some not so good.
One that I feel I must comment on in the context of the coming reversion to Chinese rule, concerns apparent insensitivity by whoever is responsible for Police Force recruitment advertising.
I specifically refer to the poster advertisement currently running in the MTR stations.
When I first saw this poster, I really thought it was an ad for a neo-fascist movie such as RoboCop III or Terminator 2 or whatever, with the key illustrations of a tank, and apparent human beings dressed and equipped to put down a rebellion or for WorldWar III! I believe that the ad at best indicates that Hong Kong is an occupied territory, like the West Bank or Gaza strip. Or worst, it is an indicator of things to come.
I assume that the Government has austerity in mind with this ad, as they will only have to change the text in 1997 from RHKP to the PLA to bring it up to date! Producing an insensitive ad like this four years after Tiananmen, and four years before 1997 does not, in my mind, inspire confidence in the future.
MICHAEL MUDD Causeway Bay