HONG KONG (SE): “Even it is only a character in a TV series, it is still necessary to develop a story based on truth. We do not know why a foreign domestic worker is depicted like that,” Johannie Tong Hiu-yan, community relations officer of the Mission for Migrant Workers based at St. John’s Cathedral, Garden Road, told the Sunday Examiner in an interview.
Tong was commenting on the depiction of a Filipino worker, Louisa, in an April 11 episode of the TVB series, Barrack O’Karma 1968, in which the actress resorted to darkening her skin [a practice called, brownface]. The incident drew criticism from migrant rights groups who were aggrieved that the insensitivity of the series would reinforce false representations of the foreign domestic workers by depicting them as dark-skinned liars with problems like stealing money or practising voodoo.
“They are wrong stereotypes which may spread incorrect perceptions in Hong Kong society, which do not only cause hurtful feelings among the migrant community, but may also increase conflicts and tensions in their employer’s family,” Tong said. She believes strengthening these misconceptions will discourage the advancement of harmony in society.
She said the elements of the real life of migrants missing in the TV series are that they mostly suffer from the lack of living space in their employer’s home, and the long working hours. In the annual report of Mission for Migrant Workers released in March this year, 98 per cent of the the group’s clients worked for 11 hours or more a day. One out of every two said they had to work even on their rest day.
Tong expressed her hope that on International Worker’s Day, May 1, more Hong Kong people would become more aware of the contributions of the foreign workers who improve the living standard of many families in Hong Kong, but with low minimum wage and lots of immigration restrictions.
Household work has long been devalued by Hong Kong society. On Labour Day, we appeal to Hong Kong society to give the foreign domestic workers more dignity,
Johannie Tong
“Household work has long been devalued by Hong Kong society. On Labour Day, we appeal to Hong Kong society to give the foreign domestic workers more dignity,” she urged.
The actress involved, Franchesca Wong, apologised in a social media post on April 20 for offending the migrant community.
However, Tong believes that it would not have been difficult to find a Filipino actor to play the role and pointed out that internationally, actors of different nationalities are cast for television and film roles to encourage respect and inclusion, so the failure of TVB to do so could been seen as an act of exclusion.
In a report on April 16 in the South China Morning Post, Philippine consul general, Raly Tejada, said that the show was “downright ignorant, insensitive and totally disgusting” and that the Filipino people in Hong Kong were hurt by the negative portrayal of a Filipino worker. He added that the technique of using make-up to darken the skin of a light-skinned actor reinforces negative stereotypes of foreign domestic workers.
A press statement issued by the Asian Migrant Coordinating Body on April 20, expressed offense at the series’ callous portrayal of a migrant worker who practised black magic. “It is scandalous and against our religious beliefs.”
It said that the series harmed the dignity of migrant workers and could sour the good working relationship in a household, or even worsen the working conditions of migrant workers, even though it is just a fictional television show. It urged TVB to select content that the audience can learn something from instead of fanning stigma and prejudice.
