Model in Cathay Pacific’s banned same-sex advert proud of his role and says big firms may have misjudged Hong Kong public’s attitude to sexual orientation
- Howard Chan, 38, said he was shocked Hong Kong companies could not accommodate such a subtle message
- City’s airport and rail giant MTR did a U-turn on ban after rush of support from public
Big companies appear to have underestimated Hongkongers’ openness to sexual orientation, according to one of the models in Cathay Pacific’s banned advert featuring two men holding hands on a beach.
“I am quite happy that after news of the ban came out, the public reacted quite fast and positively to the commercial and I felt many people supported it,” Howard Chan Ho-wan, who appeared in the advert, said on Tuesday.
Chan, 38, said he was shocked that some Hong Kong companies could not accommodate such a subtle message, urging more positive changes.
“It’s very subtle. We’re not naked, we’re not kissing each other or making out,” said Chan, who stands on the right in the advert. “We’re holding hands, wearing suits on a very beautiful beach. And our faces are not shown. [The two companies’ reaction] quite surprised me.”
Chan, who has worked for around a decade in fields such as modelling and starring in TV shows and commercials, said same-sex advertising in the city was still being underused.
It’s very subtle. We’re not naked, we’re not kissing each other or making out
No one came forward because of concern over public exposure and the nature of the role, which was to include holding hands, hugging and kissing.
“The response was not that positive, even though it was a Cathay commercial. Many people hesitated about the work because of their [sexual] status,” Chan said.
In the advert, a gay couple stroll hand in hand along Upper Cheung Sha Wan beach on Lantau Island after attending a friend’s wedding.
Chan said he was proud to have taken part in the advert as it was something that had meaning. He said the message Cathay tried to show the public was reflective of changing times but he acknowledged it was “quite hard” to change views within society.
MTR partially backs down in face of same-sex advert ban outrage
“If some big corporates are willing to do it, what we can see is the impact is huge and people’s mindset is changing, and changing from generation to generation,” he said.
“Cathay Pacific is based in Hong Kong and represents this small city. For big local corporates to really be a part of the community, I feel proud.”
He said he never expected the situation to turn out like it had.
“It is really good the MTR and airport changed their policy and allowed these adverts to happen. It’s an important step. You can see the public response hasn’t been negative. We can do more step by step,” Chan said.
Chan graduated from Polytechnic University specialising in property, but wanted to do more artistic work. He spent the past four years in TV on a range of shows and commercials and six years in modelling before that.
