Upclose with Larry Feign
Larry Feign, the writer and cartoonist behind Lily Wong, has just published “HongKongitis,” a collection of sharp observations about “the most oddly loveable city on earth.”
HK Magazine: What exactly is HongKongitis?
Larry Feign: It’s a condition you get from living in Hong Kong too long, where you start taking local habits overseas without knowing it, doing things like jumping bus queues and sitting in any empty seat you see in a restaurant. Another major symptom is the need to constantly and loudly complain about everything in Hong Kong, even though you secretly love it.
HK: Is the book targeted at any particular audience?
LF: Basically the same audience as most English-language publications, about 60 percent Chinese and 40 percent expats. While writing and doing cartoons over the years, I’ve always tried to keep that audience in mind.
HK: At one point in the book you say that Hong Kong has “a blatant social and racial inferiority complex.” How so?
LF: One aspect is in our advertisements - it’s always pictures of people driving around the south of France, and they’re always rich white Europeans. I think that reveals a lot. But that’s just one illustration. Another example is the recent slogan “Asia’s World City.” I mean, just take that slogan apart and ask what it means. Why must we only be Asia’s world city? Why not the world city? I think the slogan sounds almost like an apology, like we’re embarrassed about even aspiring to proper international status.
HK: You’ve done a lot of work for Disney, but opposed them coming over. Why?
LF: I used to be a huge Disney fan, but that doesn’t mean I think it was culturally appropriate to bring that stuff here. I remember once seeing a brochure welcoming tourists to Hong Kong, and what was on the cover? Mickey Mouse! How does Mickey Mouse represent Hong Kong in any way?
HK: What keeps you in Hong Kong?
LF: I’ve left Hong Kong forever, twice, and still can’t figure out why I’ve had to come back both times. I’m definitely not a “home-is-elsewhere expat.” That’s a particular type you can recognize just from the look of their apartment, an unfurnished company-paid flat that always looks like the occupant’s about to check out. Some people just never settle in, they forever see home as somewhere else.