Ming Pao to Stop Publishing Zunzi Cartoons

Ming Pao ends its 40-year run publishing Zunzi cartoons

The Hong Kong government has a thin skin when it comes to cartoons satirising its policies, and this has led to Ming Pao ending its 40-year association with cartoonist Zunzi. The Chinese newspaper announced it would end running the political cartoons on May 14.

Zunzi, whose real name is Wong Kei-kwan, contributed two daily cartoons to the paper, one of a single illustration, the other a three-panel comic strip. They mostly poked fun at current affairs, and it seems since John Lee Ka-chiu became Chief Executive last July, he and his administration have criticised the cartoons.

On district council overhaul

Most recently, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen slammed a cartoon published on Tuesday that referred to the city's district council overhaul. It depicted a man telling a woman that representatives would be selected "as long as their superior deems them suitable", even if they failed all exams and health checks.

Mak, who is involved in the overhaul, said the cartoon was "distortive" and "unethical", and accused Wong of smearing the government's reputation.

Earlier Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung condemned another cartoon by Wong, claiming he made misleading accusations and fostered public ill will against the authorities.

The cartoon depicted two people speculating that the government was actually reserving HK$20 billion (US$2.5 billion) from its budget to build prisons and hire correctional staff to target the public, after the authorities announced they would spend HK$5.2 billion to upgrade the police's information system in the coming year.

Wong declined to comment on why Ming Pao cut him loose. 

"The incident is part of the current 'Hong Kong story' in which people can see and feel, not the one the officials are talking about," Wong said, referring to the pledge by the government to promote a positive account of the city.

Zunzi says he will continue creating cartoons

He said he would continue to create cartoons but did not elaborate on which platform he would use. 

"There are various forms of creation. I appreciate other creators expressing their opinions in the ways they are good at and I will learn from them," Wong added.

Ming Pao said in a statement that said in part: "Ming Pao thanks Zunzi for witnessing the changing times with us over the past 40 years."

The paper's Ming Pao Staff Association expressed regret the artist's columns would no longer be featured in the publication.

"Apart from news reporting, the works of columnists are also part of the core value of Ming Pao. A diversified society should be inclusive of different voices," it wrote in a statement.

"We hope all sectors of the community will respect freedom of speech and protect the core values of Ming Pao, while maintaining social justice and kindness."

Zunzi's cartoon on Xi's plans for Hong Kong

Wong is no stranger to controversy, having riled up at least five government departments, including the police and Security Bureau. His cartoons were once banned in Macau and Singapore more than 20 years ago.

In an interview with AFP in 2000, Wong said "jokes can be very dangerous".

"The powerful try to... make the masses believe there is no one else but them to follow," he said.

"Jokes can quickly pierce through all this and nail the lies. They can drag the powerful down from their thrones."