When Michael Jackson rode roller coaster at Ocean Park Hong Kong, and took the press for a ride – reports from Post’s 1987 archives
King of pop’s female lookalike and minder Dr Penguin lead press pack on a wild-goose chase at Kai Tak airport, while singer slipped in to city on a private visit, 30 years ago this week
“Michael Jackson in Hongkong”, ran the headline in the South China Morning Post on October 20, 1987, the American singer having arrived on a private visit.
“Reclusive pop star Michael Jackson jetted into Hongkong yesterday – and, in an attempt to shake off pursuing photographers, immediately joined the lunchtime scramble for a taxi outside Kai Tak airport.”
When a photographer pushed his way into the front seat of Jackson’s taxi, the star’s lone minder, formally attired in the unlikely get-up of tails and a bow-tie, told the aggressive press pack, “If you keep coming on like this, Michael will not come back to Hongkong again.”
George Michael in China: how singer made it over the bamboo curtain with more of a whisper than a wham
The game was up the following day. “Michael Jackson ‘twin’ dupes press at airport,” read the Post’s headline. “The Truth is out. Michael Jackson did fly into Hongkong from Tokyo on Monday afternoon – but it wasn’t Michael Jackson who led reporters on a wild goose chase at Kai Tak airport. And his so-called ‘minder’ was actually a Hongkong-based American entertainer who uses the stage name Dr Penguin.
