What does Hong Kong’s obsession with ‘Mr and Mrs Ho’ say about society?
Analysts say fascination with internet couple goes beyond curiosity over age-gap romance, but warn that residents should not be quick to judge
Hong Kong’s appetite for gossip-driven news such as reports on the drama-filled life of internet couple “Mr and Mrs Ho” reflects residents’ disinterest in politics and the allure of hot-button topics such as differences in the ages of married partners.
The couple first garnered media attention last year during a whirlwind romance that saw the 77-year-old Mr Ho tie the knot with the 44-year-old Mrs Ho within a month of meeting each other.
Their television appearances and lavish displays of affection put them on the radar of both residents and government officials, whose eyebrows were raised over their eligibility for public housing.
Most recently, their relationship took a darker turn when police arrested the couple over a domestic violence dispute. Mrs Ho suffered knife injuries to the back of her head, and Mr Ho had a bite on his finger.
Polytechnic University’s Daniel Shek Tan-Lei said stories related to the couple, one of whom was a younger divorcee from mainland China, connected with residents and made them want to chime in with their opinions.
“The case is an age-gap romance with an older husband and a younger wife, which has its attraction to the public who are eager to gossip,” the chair professor of applied social sciences said.