Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. I refer to “Teletubbies scare: father of boy accused of damaging HK$52,000 statue in Hong Kong says toy store has promised refund amid social media backlash” ( May 24 ). This story has gone viral, sparking a lot of internet debates about whether the kid’s family should bear the consequences, whether the store should have made the parents pay, and whether the parents should punish the child. The first time I saw the video I was shocked; I can’t believe the shop would display a HK$52,000 figure with zero protection. Still, if I was the store owner, I would of course want the customer to pay in full for what they broke; since I clearly stated the shop’s policy, customers should be aware of it and take care of their kids. Moreover, I would not return the money to the father just because of some voices on the internet. On the other hand, as a parent, I would understandably not want to pay a penny. But while the mistake cannot be undone, it can be learned from: the parents should teach their child by explaining to him that he cannot lean on random things. People make mistakes. But the most important thing is to take responsibility for your actions, even if you don’t like the consequences. Vanessa Ng, Tseung Kwan O Finding excuses for brownface gets society nowhere We refer to the letter “Critics of TVB brownface episode don’t know how entertainment works” ( April 22 ). We believe that using brownface is unacceptable in any case. In the 1800s, American white stage actors would darken themselves to play stereotyped black characters. For the actress in Barrack O’ Karma 1968 to wear brownface to play the role of a Filipino domestic helper only strengthens the idea that brownness can be used for entertainment, perpetuating a racist legacy. Using brownface to play a character is culturally ignorant because people of colour experience prejudice on a daily basis, and unlike the actress, they cannot take off their skin colour to avoid being mistreated. On top of that, the portrayal of the Filipino domestic worker also reinforces the stigma around domestic workers. In the episode, the Filipino character Louisa’s identity is flattened into a few traits: submissiveness, clumsiness, and docility. She also has an accent and is suspected of practising voodoo. Raly Tejada, the Philippines Consul General in Hong Kong, has described the show as “downright ignorant, insensitive and totally disgusting”. While the portrayal in the show may not have been intended to insult, stereotyped representations can still contribute to unjustified assumptions about minority communities. Moreover, the letter justifies TVB’s casting choice by saying that local Filipino performers with reasonable Cantonese skills are “rare to find”. However, Cantonese speaking skills need not be a prerequisite for hiring a Filipino actor. For the 2018 film Still Human , the production team cast Crisel Consunji, a Filipino with low Cantonese proficiency, to play the role of a domestic helper. Her portrayal won her awards for Best New Performer at the 38th Hong Kong Film Awards and Best New Actress in the 30th Hong Kong Directors’ Guild Awards. Stereotyped portrayals of ethnic minority groups and the use of brownface in entertainment must be addressed, not justified, overlooked, or dismissed. As residents of Hong Kong, it is our unshakeable responsibility to make positive changes to our home. Only by acknowledging issues of cultural insensitivity and actively ensuring the authentic representation of minority communities can we start changing Hong Kong for the better. Mia Tong, Chloe Pang and Angel Chung, Sheung Shui Hongkongers should think hard before emigrating I refer to the article, “Almost half of new Hong Kong immigrants in Britain have symptoms of depression or anxiety, survey finds” ( May 18 ). Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and the social movement, a number of Hongkongers have emigrated to other countries. They are mostly seeking a better and less stressful living environment. However, emigration can raise other problems which some Hongkongers have overlooked. One of the most common difficulties new arrivals face is in communicating. They may not be proficient in the language of their new home and are unable to speak to the locals. Youngsters in particular may struggle to mingle with other teenagers and could feel isolated or be discriminated against. At the same time, new arrivals may not be familiar with the local lifestyle. Finding a new job is probably also a challenge. On top of this, relocating costs money. It may create a financial burden, and quality of life may be worse than before. In short, people should think carefully before emigrating, as it is a momentous decision. They should also do extensive research on the country they wish to go to, so they can be well-prepared as new arrivals. Carly Yuen, Fanling
