The keen fencer also becomes a coach for a group of students from his alma mater, La Salle College
NIKKI.SUN@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Saturday, 23 April, 2016, 8:31am
Financial Secretary John Tsang gave a lively performance in the two-minute video. Photo: David Wong
Busy Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah appears to have taken on a new job – as a fencing coach.
In a newly released video to promote the city’s sagging tourism sector, the financial tzar, himself a fencing fanatic, instructed a group of students from La Salle College – his alma mater – and adopted a comical tone in a bid to sell Hong Kong’s heritage and offerings to a global audience.
The financial secretary, who rates highly in public opinion polls, is seen by pundits as posing one of the strongest possible threats to incumbent Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying if he decides to run in next year’s chief executive election.
The two-minite video sees the financial chief at times in a playful mood, engaging in a bit of self-mockery to promote the city.
Students: Traditional yet trendy! Great looking and lots of fun! Just fabulous!
Tsang: Are you guys talking about me?
Students: We are talking about Hong Kong sir!
Apart from that, witty Cantonese puns abound, such as one featuring Tsang’s iconic moustache.
Students: Sir, Would you “tai sou” – which means “shave” in Cantonese?
Tsang: Nope, but I will definitely “tai show”– meaning “watch shows” in Cantonese.
Although the financial secretary said he had “no plan at present” to run for the city’s top job, he did recently become active on social media.
Tsang’s Facebook page scored thousands of likes and positive comments for each of his most recent posts, in stark contrast to the thousands of “angry” buttons directed at Leung’s.
He also recently turned his weekly online blog into a storytelling platform on his childhood and family anecdotes in addition to his normal insights into government policies and the economic situation.
Check out the video with English subtitles on this site: https://www.youtube.com/user/HongKongTC
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1937829/hong-kong-finance-chief-john-tsang-pokes-fun-himself-tourism
