Hong Kong’s Security Bureau, police and customs have joined the government’s push to boost voter turnout in the coming Legislative Council election by releasing a series of lighthearted videos featuring top officials getting hair makeovers while using Cantonese puns to urge residents to vote.
These clips play on the shared Cantonese pronunciation for “hair” and “law”, encouraging residents to prioritise voting over styling their hair.
The campaigns feature Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung, Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming and Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat along with their deputies.
The initiatives mark the latest efforts by authorities to encourage residents to vote in the Legco election on December 7, following ministers’ letters to civil servants calling on them to vote and moves by prominent businesses to grant holidays to employees who do so.
In a video released on Tuesday, police chief Chow joked that “the colour of your hair doesn’t matter; knowing how to vote is what’s most important”.
His message came at the end of a skit in which he had trouble deciding what colour to dye his hair while his three deputies each offered a different suggestion, only to find their superior had left his hair unchanged in the end.
The Security Bureau led the pack with a short clip posted during the nominations period for the election, featuring Tang, undersecretary Michael Cheuk Hau-yip, and permanent secretary Patrick Li Pak-chuen.
“Gelling hair is important for the maintenance of one’s image; legislation is even more important to maintain social stability,” Tang said in a voice-over, using a pun on the similar Cantonese pronunciation for “gelling hair” and “legislation”.
The three officials were shown slicking their hair back, fitting their suit jackets and checking their reflections in a retro-styled video backed by soulful music.
The nomination period ran from October 24 to November 6, with 161 contenders later cleared to run.
This “haircare” theme carried over to videos from the police force and customs, both set in hair salons.
In its version posted on Monday, customs played on the Cantonese phrase for changing one’s hair parting to mirror the changing of terms in the coming election.
Filmed in a Shanghai-style barber shop, customs chief Chan demanded a change in his hair parting. “Changing one’s hair parting is important for hair health. Our Legislative Council is also changing terms,” Chan said, drawing approving nods from his deputies.
Beyond these two security branches, the Immigration Department has taken a different approach.
In its promotional clip released on Monday, British snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan, who gained Hong Kong residency last year through a talent scheme, spoke in Cantonese to remind residents to “remember to vote”. -- SOUTHG CHINA MORNING POST
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