HK pop singer Jacky Cheung clarifies use of 'Hong Kong add oil' phrase in video

Hong Kong Cantopop singer Jacky Cheung Hok Yau has clarified his use of the phrase “Hong Kong, add oil” in a video he recorded for the state broadcaster after the station reportedly removed the clip due to its relation to the local protests in 2019. Stating that he was a proud Chinese citizen who loved his country and the city, Cheung said in a statement released on 3 July 2022 on his Weibo account that the phrase should not be banned just because it was once used by people who “made mistakes”.

He also said in the statement that not being involved in politics is important as an artist, and he had experienced the brightest and darkest moments in Hong Kong, “我聽過『北京加油』、『武漢加油』、『上海加油』⋯，但『香港加油』卻因為一些犯了錯誤的人用過，『黑色』『黃色』被一些別有用心犯了罪的人穿過，變成了愛國不愛國的標準，成為了『禁語」『禁色』，我個人無法理解。”(I heard of “Beijing add oil”, “Wuhan add oil”, “Shanghai add oil”...however “Hong Kong add oil”, black and yellow colour became taboos just because they were used by people with sins, and turned into a standard of whether someone loves a country or not. I personally could not understand that.”

“I benefited from Hong Kong’s rapid development....I am proud of being a Chinese citizen. I hope our Chinese fellows are rational and being able to convince people with a reason, demonstrating the Chinese manner to the world. Whether I love my country and city or not, it is for the public to judge. Thank you for monitoring my actions and I will continue being a good person and singer in the future.” Cheung added.

On 1 July 2022, Cheung recorded a 21-second video for CCTV to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the city’s handover to Chinese rule, Cheung said in the clip: “Hong Kong has experienced a lot with ups and downs in the past 25 years. I grew up with this city. I was born and grew up here. I still believe in this city, still hoping that it will become a better one. Add oil, Hong Kong.”

The phrase of "Hong Kong add oil", which roughly translates as “Keep it up”, was widely heard during the social unrest back in 2019. Some runners taking part in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon last year were warned by organisers and police against displaying the phrase on their outfits, according to SCMP. 

Previously in June this year, a Chinese livestreamer’s show has gone silent on the Internet, triggering speculation that he might have offended censors as he showed a piece of cake shaped like a tank just before the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. The influencer Li Jiaqi, known popularly as “Brother Lipstick” as he once sold over 15,000 lipsticks in five minutes, has gained more than 64 million followers on Taobao Live.

On 3 June 2022, Li was livestreaming his promotion of a layered Viennetta ice cream, according to the BBC News. However, his livestream was abruptly disrupted after his assistant showed a “tank-like” cake on camera, which appeared to be made of chocolate bars and cookies, according to screenshots posted on Twitter.  To which, Li immediately issued a statement on his Weibo account, stating that there was a technical error during his show. Approximately two hours later, he was seen apologising for not being able to continue his livestream show.

(Photo courtesy: Weibo account of Jacky Cheung's fansclub )

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