12 May 2023
Zunzi’s cartoons suspended by his newspaper
The Hong Kong newspaper, Ming Pao, for which the famous cartoonist Zunzi worked since 1983, suspended the publication of his cartoons. The reasons behind this suspension, which should take place this Sunday, May 14 have not been explained by the newspaper. Ming Pao is the last newspaper in which Zunzi published his cartoons.
📢[CARTOONIST ALERT]#HongKong
The Hong Kong newspaper @mingpaocom, for which the famous cartoonist #Zunzi worked since 1983, has suspended the publication of his cartoons. The reasons for the suspension were not given by the newspaper: https://t.co/VQNZrArUxr pic.twitter.com/TNtaupNYJI— Cartooning for Peace (@CartooningPeace) May 12, 2023
Multiple sources quoting the cartoonist and a person close to the case indicate that this decision would be due to the umpteenth complaint received by the newspaper from an official for the publishing of a cartoon. The latest was published on Tuesday, May 9 2023.
Zunzi explained, in a message to The Associated Press, that the reasons for the end of this collaboration are clear, but no one will confirm them. He also added that he feels that freedoms of speech and expression are shrinking in Hong Kong, but that he will continue to create as long as he can.
The cartoon in question illustrates a man explaining to a woman that the District Council representatives will be appointed as long as the officials consider them suitable, even if they fail exams and have health issues. This publication follows Hong Kong’s last week announcement to reduce the number of directly elected District Council seats in favor of direct appointments.
“Failing in Chinese, English and math [exams]; high cholesterol; obesity; having heart disease; small stature; colorblind; short-sighted, all of these are not problems.”
“As long as the official thinks [somebody] is suitable, they can be appointed to the District Fire Safety Committees [and] District Fight Crime Committees.” (English translation by Hong Kong Free Press)
The cartoon was criticized by Alice Mak, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs. She accused the cartoon of distorting and slandering the reality of the local committee members’ appointment.
According to her statement, “the content ignores facts, deceives the public and is discriminatory, insulting people with high cholesterol, heart disease and color blindness [by] implying they are incapable of contributing to society (…) Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak strongly condemns this behavior.”
This is not the first time that Zunzi’s cartoons are subject to complaints, as he reported to Reuters, and the Ming Pao newspaper also reported it as well. In October 2022, the Hong Kong police expressed their dissatisfaction about a cartoon they considered misleading, then followed by the Chief Executive, John Lee, who criticized another of his cartoons. In January 2023, Eric Chan, Chief Secretary for Administration considered a cartoon was conveying “biased, misleading, and false accusations”. Finally, last April, it was the Hong Kong security chief who accused the cartoonist of having targeted the government several times in the last 6 months.
Zunzi, who appeared resigned according to Reuters, said that “the situation continues to develop in a bad direction”. Amnesty International and others pointed out the danger of the 2020 National Security Law.
As a reminder, Hong Kong ranks 140th in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index 2023. The organisation says it regrets the newspaper’s decision.
Cartooning for Peace also regrets this decision. Condemning the pressures suffered by press cartoonist Zunzi, and his newspaper, the organisation hopes that the suspension will only be temporary and that he will be able to continue to comment Hong Kong’s news in total independence and freedom.
