Henry Tang Ying-yen is not stupid. He is clever, wise, friendly and capable, says 'king of comedy' Stephen Chow Sing-chi, the man behind blockbusters such as Fight Back to School, Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, the highest-grossing film in Hong Kong's history.
'The Tang I know is not stupid at all,' he said yesterday. 'I don't make friends with dumb people.
'Mr Tang has that friendliness that makes capable and extraordinary people work for him. He's not simply clever. He's got wisdom.'
Chow was responding to a comment earlier in the day by Tang's rival for the city's top job, Leung Chun-ying, who said: 'Recently there has been a suggestion which I think is not healthy ... that the chief executive can even be a stupid person if there are smart people around him.'
Tang's popularity fell after he admitted cheating on his wife, but Chow said: 'We are choosing the chief executive, not a boyfriend.'
Former chief secretary Tang would seem to have little in common with the actor-director. But they clicked over an unexpected subject: railings at the West Kowloon Cultural District. Chow said Tang was enthusiastic in seeking the opinions of others and had asked him whether railings should be placed along the harbourfront of the arts hub. The comedian replied that railings could block the view, but not adding them might pose a safety risk.
