Hong Kong’s Carrie Lam can use a page from Donald Trump’s playbook to handle hostile media
- Yonden Lhatoo says the chief executive must learn to give as good as she gets from malicious journalists as she fights a losing propaganda war with her many detractors
“Why is this a global competition when, every day, Americans are still losing their lives?” asked the reporter, a Chinese-born US citizen.
“They’re losing their lives everywhere in the world,” was Trump’s reply to that “nasty” question. “And maybe that’s a question you should ask China. Don’t ask me, ask China that question, OK?”
Was that racist? Does Trump have a particular problem with female journalists? Even more so if they’re not Caucasian? He’ll keep denying all of it until the cows come home, but what matters is the confrontational strategy he has adopted to counter a predominantly hostile media. It makes sense in that he can never win them over, so he might as well maintain his narrative by riding roughshod over them. His supporters love him all the more for it.
Contrast that with the feeble strategy of the Hong Kong government, if it even has one at all, in dealing with a far more hostile and malicious media.
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“So do you agree that your delayed border lockdown measure was responsible for the global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic?”
The reply was textbook Lam: “First of all, I have to fiercely disagree and refute your very serious allegation … So for you to suggest that sort of allegation, that Hong Kong has become a transit centre for the spread of the disease worldwide, is most unfair and unsubstantiated.”
“Mrs Lam, many citizens have been asking you when you will die!”
“Do you have a conscience?”
“Do you still feel there is a spot reserved for you in heaven, or do you think you will go to hell?”
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That last question was a particularly offensive attempt to crucify a devout Catholic, and yet she let it all slide, no stomach to fight back.
Imagine how Trump would respond if he were verbally assaulted in that manner. Dignified be damned, he would have put his inquisitors in their place right there and then for crossing the line.
What has Lam got to lose by taking a page out of Trump’s playbook to seize the narrative, at least while standing at her own bully pulpit?
“You’re fake news” is a good way to start, as is “you’re a disgrace”. And there’s always Trump’s authoritative “quiet!” and/or “that’s enough!” to end unruly arguments at press conferences. What does it matter when you’ll be pilloried by the press anyway at the end of the day.
How sad is that.
Yonden Lhatoo is the chief news editor at the Post
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