From Occupy to ballot-box: Hong Kong actor Gregory ‘Boy God’ Wong inspired by youth involvement in elections
The famous TV actor and supporter of Occupy says younger generations should not be criticised for getting involved in the District Council elections.
The young people who were politically awakened by the Occupy Central movement and motivated to run in the District Council election may lack the political experience, but their passion to make Hong Kong a better place should not be neglected, well-known actor Gregory Wong Chung-yiu said.
Wong said after casting his vote in Wan Chai on Sunday afternoon that every Hongkonger regardless of their political stance should treasure the votes they have and vote for the candidates they believe in.
“The District Council is important because the councillors are those who can make the voices of the people living in their district heard,” said Wong, who shot to fame by starring in dramas on broadcaster HKTV.
Wong, who earned the nickname “Boy God” because of his heavenly good looks said he was touched that many young people are running in the election this year after being inspired by the 79-day Occupy movement.
“Whether a person already has experience working in the District Council may be important, but what is also crucial is a person’s passion to do what he wants to do,” he added.
The 36-year-old actor is a supporter of the Occupy movement. A photo of him wearing a yellow helmet and goggles at Admiralty, surrounded by other Occupy protestors, caused a social media storm back in 2014.
He said that he has not thought about becoming a politician “so far”.
“Becoming a politician is a big challenge. Now that I have had some success in acting, I do not want to stop. But I will continue to be an influence in my capacity as an actor,” he said.
Asked if he is giving himself some room to manoeuvre by saying he “so far” does not want to be a politician, he said:“I really don’t know. Sometimes I feel like I do not know what I want to do.”
