"Listen Carefully to the Chinese Government," Chow Yun-fat's Stern Remark... Fans Worried He Might "Disappear"

"Necessary Steps to Finance Movie Production" Sparks Debate
SNS Post Containing the Statement Eventually Censored
"Many Celebrities Disappear After Falling Out of Favor with Authorities" Raises Concerns

Hong Kong's top star Chow Yun-fat (Jeou Lun-fa, 周潤發, 67) sparked concerns on the 5th at the Busan International Film Festival that his remarks about China's strict censorship could cause him trouble in the future.

"The 'True A Better Tomorrow' Chow Yun-fat was brave... but must also be cautious about safety"

Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat (Joo Yoon-pal, 68). [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Voice of America (VOA) on the 6th, "Chow Yun-fat lamented the Chinese government's strict censorship, and netizens are worried that he might face problems because of his remarks."

VOA reported that while Chow Yun-fat's comments on 'censorship' resonated with some Chinese netizens, others criticized him as 'unpatriotic' and 'pro-Hong Kong independence.' Some also expressed concerns that Chow Yun-fat might face difficulties in the future.

Comments such as "Censorship has actually hindered domestic film production. It's not only Hong Kong that is affected. Mainland filmmakers are also afraid to make films," and "Brother Fa (髮哥, a nickname for Chow Yun-fat) still speaks out bravely," were also introduced.

Additionally, the media confirmed that Weibo deleted some posts and photos related to the topic, and some netizens worried about Chow Yun-fat's safety, fearing he might be punished by the Communist Party.

"Film financing must align with Chinese government goals... We will make films embodying Hong Kong's soul"

In October 2019, when the anti-mask law was announced during the Hong Kong anti-government protests, Zhou Yunfa wore a black mask and went jogging, taking photos with citizens.
[Photo source=Social Media (SNS) capture]

At a press conference at the Busan International Film Festival held in Korea the previous day, Chow Yun-fat spoke about Hong Kong films, saying, "There are many regulations now, making it difficult for producers. Scripts have to go through various parts of the film authorities, and if they do not follow government guidelines, it is hard to secure production funds. Many filmmakers are struggling, but there is too much censorship."

He added, "Many things have changed since 1997. We must pay attention to the government's goals. This is very important. Otherwise, it will be difficult to secure sufficient film production funds," and said, "We are continuously trying to find solutions to survive."

Chow Yun-fat emphasized, "We will do our best to make films that embody the soul of Hong Kong, and that is our goal."

The year 1997 mentioned by Chow Yun-fat is when Hong Kong's sovereignty was returned from the United Kingdom to China, which is considered the end of the golden age of Hong Kong cinema.

The Hong Kong film industry, which once enjoyed autonomy and diversity, has since declined. In 2020, the Hong Kong National Security Law was enacted, and the following year, an amendment to the film law was passed banning the screening of films deemed "contrary to the interests of national security," imposing even more restrictions.

Under this law, Hong Kong authorities can revoke screening permits and ban films already approved if they are judged to support or glorify actions threatening national security.

Tennis players and actors also 'disappear' if they fall out of favor with the Chinese government... The climate of fear engulfing Chinese society

Chinese actress Fan Bingbing has revealed her whereabouts nine months after going missing.
[Photo source=Social Media (SNS) capture]

There have been multiple cases in China where people from various sectors, including human rights activists, tycoons, entertainers, and officials, suddenly disappeared.

In 2021, Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai disappeared for over two weeks after accusing Zhang Gaoli, former Vice Premier of the State Council, of sexual assault, and her Weibo (China's social media) account was deleted.

In the same year, Chinese actor Zhao Wei was suspected of disappearing after facing a crackdown by the Chinese government. After being fined hundreds of millions of yuan for misleading investors through false disclosures, he vanished. All records related to Zhao Wei, including dramas and films he appeared in, were also removed online.

Zhao Wei was known as "China's female Buffett" for accumulating wealth through stock investments, and it was interpreted that she became a target of the Chinese authorities' "common prosperity" regulations. Attention was also drawn to her close friendship with Alibaba founder Jack Ma, who had criticized Xi Jinping's government economic policies.

In 2018, Chinese actress Fan Bingbing disappeared for a while, sparking various rumors. At the time of her disappearance, she was also under suspicion of tax evasion involving large sums of appearance fees.

Fan Bingbing reappeared 107 days after her disappearance, announcing her return by saying, "Until now, I did not understand the relationship between the interests of the state, society, and myself," and pledged, "From now on, I will be loyal to the country."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.