Hong Kong Canto-pop legend Jacky Cheung Hok Yau has defended his use of the phrase “Hong Kong, add oil” in a message he recorded for the state broadcaster after the station reportedly axed his clip because of the slogan’s popularity with anti-government protesters in 2019.
The phrase of encouragement, which roughly translates as “Keep it up”, was widely heard during the social unrest three years ago. Some runners taking part in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon last year were warned by organisers and police against displaying the phrase on their outfits “I have heard of ‘Beijing add oil’, ‘Wuhan add oil’ and ‘Shanghai, add oil’, but I personally cannot understand why ‘Hong Kong, add oil’, or the yellow and black colours, has become the yardstick in determining one’s patriotism or is taboo just because they have been used by some people who made mistakes, or were worn by some criminals who had ulterior motives,” he said.