Dear Ms Jue Yao, Prof. Anna Pao-Sohmen, Dr. Dame Rosanna WongYick-ming
As founding members of the Hong Kong String Orchestra I’d like to congratulate you on what you have achieved. bc magazine has given the orchestra lots of free coverage, listings and write-ups for your concerts over the years.
However, yesterday we received an email asking for free coverage of your upcoming charity concert – regrettably bc magazine will not be giving exposure to your concert, however noble the cause.
The recent speech by the HK String Orchestra’s honorary patron CY Leung that those Hongkongers who earn less than $14,000/month should be considered second class citizens and have no say in the future of Hong Kong is deeply offensive.
The median monthly income in Hong Kong is $14,000 and a couple of million people work hard long hours doing jobs vital to Hong Kong every day. Every one of those would love to earn over $14,000 – they don’t – but without them Hong Kong ceases to function.
The people CY Leung insults and degrades with his comments are the heart of the orchestra that is Hong Kong, The soloist or conductor are often changed – but without the violin section, or the cellos the music cannot be performed and enjoyed as the composer intended and the soloist is exactly that… solo, alone playing for herself.
Would you have a violinist on stage purely because they were rich, even if they couldn’t play a note and their inability would destroy your performance?
Your charity concerts claim to help those in need or is it purely the charity of the rich ‘be grateful for what we give you’ so you the donor can sleep better at night? Think on this, I expect most of those your charity performances ‘help’ earn less than $14000/month – are their opinions about Hong Kong and it’s future (or on any subject) irrelevant because they are old, sick, victims of crime or abuse… Or will you only give them charity if they mindlessly think and act as you tell them?
While CY Leung is the HK String Orchestra’s patron, I regret to inform you that bc magazine cannot write about the orchestra or its concerts – with all your wealthy financial backers, I doubt you’ll care what one English language magazine does. But if your charity comes from the heart, rather than from selfish need, perhaps you should. Hong Kong has thrived because each person matters, and will continue to thrive if we remember that.
Regards
Simon Durrant – Editor
In loving memory of Elaine Chow who committed suicide in the early hours of the 27 October 2005. Gone but never forgotten!
