Members of Hong Kong-based comedy group "People's Liberation Improv" (L-R) Ian Hughes, Chris Coleman, Zak Knudsen (front), Pete Grella, Kay Ross and Christopher Carmon Jr.
Credit: South China Morning Post
In Hong Kong, even comedy is no longer a laughing matter.
After Beijing imposed a draconian national security law in June to quell months of anti-government protests, the city’s comedians have been left questioning if their jokes will land them in jail.
The sweeping law, which can punish vaguely defined national security crimes, including secession, subversion, and colluding with foreign forces, with long sentences or up to life in prison, has unleashed an unprecedented wave of self-censorship in the stand-up scene, admit performers.
“It’s not something I thought would happen here,” said Garron Chiu, a mainstay of the Hong Kong comedy circuit. “We always joke that whoever is the first person to be arrested just for doing comedy is going to be a hero, but at the same time nobody wants to be that comic,” he said.
Hong Kong’s deteriorating political environment has created a dilemma for performers whose job it is to push the limits of free speech. Do they risk carrying on as before, or take precautions to protect themselves and others?
The city has been on edge for months as the authorities relentlessly crack down on dissent, from elected politicians, high profile activists and a media mogul to teenagers allegedly transgressing in their social media posts.
Garron Chiu: "We have been told [by bookers] not to tell certain jokes about the government"
Credit: South China Morning Post
The lack of clarity about Beijing’s red lines means comedians are also now second-guessing and self-censoring, admitted Mr Chiu. “We have been told [by bookers] not to tell certain jokes about the government,” he said.
“I weigh back and forth and say ‘you know what, they’re not going to do anything, I’ll tell these jokes anyway,’ and other days, I’ll see something happen on the news, politicians get arrested, and you think maybe we should hold back today?” he said.
“Any time I tell a joke about China I end it with ‘you’re going to be reading about me in a paper a week from now. Apparently, I went to Shenzhen and “died in a car accident.”’ It gets a laugh and then people go, ‘wait are we supposed to be laughing at that?’”
Comedians who are already acquainted with censorship in mainland China, where sometimes the Cultural Bureau will demand to censor a show’s content in advance, now fear the same could start happening in Hong Kong.
A “snitch line” for national security crimes, launched by the police in November, has already left performers nervous about offending inspectors or even members of the audience.
Tamby Chan: “Free speech is something which comedians value a lot."
Credit: tambychan.com
“I do think people are more aware of what we’re saying,” said Pete Grella, a comedian who moved to Hong Kong 15 years ago and is part of a comedy group called People’s Liberation Improv.
“For improv we rely on audience suggestions. Luckily, we’ve performed quite a bit up in mainland China so we already know what topics to avoid and how to frame questions, because you’ve got to be careful what the audience gives you, you don’t want to get into trouble for that,” he explained.
Monitoring may increase, he suggested. “Maybe they are going to start taking an interest. I do think on a whole we are definitely going to be a lot more cautious. We don’t want to have any problems with ourselves or the club.”
Comedians are now grappling with the possibility that their professional freedoms may shrink along with the city’s.
“When the National Security Law was first passed, I contacted managers at open mic venues to ask whether we should start censoring ourselves,” said Tamby Chan, a comedian of seven years.
“They preferred not to have any material about protests, anything devaluing the Chinese Communist Party or about Taiwan’s sovereignty status,” he added. “Free speech is something which comedians value a lot. Six months ago, we could say what we wanted.”
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