Commentary
Since last October, six departments of the Hong Kong government have criticized the cartoons of Zunzi, Hong Kong’s veteran political cartoonist, for being “factually untrue” and “unethical.” The message is clear: Ming Pao, the newspaper where the cartoons were published, had to stop publishing Zunzi, who had produced pro-democratic cartoons for four decades. Finally, Ming Pao gave in, and Zunzi’s cartoons ceased publication on May 14.
Few journalists and columnists dared to discuss this landmark development publicly. However, after the cessation, Zunzi’s cartoons are still being shared passionately on social media, reflecting how much Hongkongers love him.
Zunzi’s political cartoons have become an important part of Hong Kong culture because they were used as sources in public exams. Besides being sarcastic, his cartoons are sometimes prophetic. For example, a three-panel cartoon strip in 1991 shows the then Hong Kong Governor David Wilson and a Chinese cadre pushing a dim sum trolley, on which is a heart-shaped cake with the words “Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong” and a lit candle. They are ready to celebrate a baby’s birthday. Wilson shows confidence in the cadre who is solely handling the cake, but to Wilson’s surprise, the cadre shoves the candle into the baby’s mouth and swallows the whole cake….