The Bus Uncle

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"The Bus Uncle" (Chinese: 巴士阿叔) is a Cantonese video clip of an argument between an old man and a young bespecled man aboard a bus in Hong Kong on April 27, 2006. The title was coined by members of an Internet forum in reference to the belligerent character in the video. Contrary to reports in Western media, the word "uncle" was never mentioned.

The video^[1][2] was taken by a passenger, uploaded to the HK Golden Forum and then quickly mirrored on YouTube and Google Video. Having attracted some 1.7 million hits in the first 3 weeks in May 2006 alone, the clip became one of YouTube's most viewed items in that month.^[3]

Its copious use of profanity and rhetorical outbursts attracted the attention of media around the world. Not only did the video become a cultural sensation in Hong Kong, it also inspired vigourous debate and discussion on lifestyle, etiquette and media ethics in the city.

Contents 1 People involved 1.1 Bus Uncle (Roger Chan Yuet Tung) 1.2 Young man (Elvis Ho Yui Hei) 1.3 Cameraman (Jon Fong Wing Hang) 2 Incident 3 Aftermath 4 Legal issues 5 Social impacts 5.1 International coverage 5.2 Effects on popular culture in Hong Kong 5.3 Parodies of the video 5.4 A closer look at life in Hong Kong 5.5 Criticism of Hong Kong media ethics 6 References 7 Other references 8 External links

[edit] People involved

[edit] Bus Uncle (Roger Chan Yuet Tung)

The "Bus Uncle" is a restaurant worker in his early fifties, Roger Chan Yuet Tung^[4] (Chinese: 陳乙東), a Yuen Long resident living with five cats. He has also made three attempts for the office of Hong Kong Chief Executive: in 1997, 2002 and again in 2006,^[5] failing in preliminary stages each time. After Chan's identity was revealed, many journalists tried to interview him, but he demanded remuneration for press interviews. Chan further claimed to have served an eight-year prison sentence in Belgium for drug smuggling and to have once won $2.5 million in a lottery, only to gamble it all away.

In Chinese culture, it is common for a person to refer an older person as "阿叔", roughly translated as "Uncle". Therefore, the English title of the video is called "Bus Uncle".

[edit] Young man (Elvis Ho Yui Hei)

The young man scolded on the video is Elvis Ho Yui Hei (Chinese: 何銳熙), a property agent for his family's property management company in Mong Kok. On May 23, 2006, Ho (previously misidentified as "Alvin" or "Elvin") called a talk show on Commercial Radio claiming to be the young man involved in the argument. In a later interview with the South China Morning Post, Ho said he often takes long bus rides home and would frequently ask passengers to lower their voices so he could take a nap. Despite having been threatened, Ho said he forgave "Bus Uncle" and sympathized with whatever stress the older man was suffering.

[edit] Cameraman (Jon Fong Wing Hang)

The man who recorded the video clip has been identified as Jon Fong Wing Hang (Chinese: 方穎恆), an accountant and part-time student, after he called a radio station on May 25, 2006. Fong, who recorded the incident with a Sony Ericsson W800i cellphone, claimed there was a second video yet to be posted online in which Ho fought back by making fun of "Bus Uncle" with a friend on the phone. Fong also stated that the reason for the recording was to provide evidence to the police in case "Bus Uncle" became physically violent.^[6] Fong sold the rights to the second video to Easy Finder magazine for HK$3,000 (US$375).^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Incident

For the full transcript of the incident, see Transcript of the Bus Uncle video in English.

The incident took place on a bus (Kowloon Motor Bus route 68X) en route to Yuen Long at approximately 11:00 p.m. on 27 April 2006. It began when a young man sitting behind a middle aged man tapped his shoulder, asking him to lower his voice while on the phone. The man in front, Chan Yuet Tung reacted furiously and an argument ensued. The younger passenger, who seldom talked back during the quarrel, expressed reluctance to carry on the discussion.

However, the middle-aged man angrily insisted that the matter is not settled. He ranted on, saying how angry he is when provoked under extreme stress. Throughout the second half of the video, the Bus Uncle insulted the young man repeatedly and appeared to be unapologetic about it. Despite the strong language and the Bus Uncle's threats of violence, a physical altercation never seemed imminent.

[edit] Aftermath

Chan stated that when Ho tapped him on the shoulder, he was under duress from an argument with his girlfriend and was calling the Samaritans suicide-prevention hotline for support. However, Ho claimed that Chan was just chatting with friends.

Sing Tao Daily reported that Chan visited Ho's office on May 31, 2006 in Mong Kok to apologize for the dispute and to initiate a business proposal for the duo to hold a "Bus Uncle Rave Party". Allegedly, Chan was quickly rejected and expelled by Ho, who expressed outrage towards the journalists who arranged the meeting and threatened legal action against the press.^{[citation needed]}

On June 7, 2006, Chan, who had been hired by a restaurant as a Public Relations officer, was physically assaulted on-the-job in front of horrified diners by three unidentified masked men who then fled the scene.^[4] He sustained severe injuries to his eyes and face and was admitted to the emergency department for treatment.

The restaurant owner Mr. Lee then faced pressure from his wife and daughter to fire Chan due to magazine coverage of Chan's exploits in a Shenzhen karaoke hostess-bar. Lee's initial refusal led to his wife's suicide attempt through drug overdose on June 11 in order to force the issue.^[7] Having learnt of it, Chan resigned, saying he did not want Lee's family to be unhappy.

[edit] Legal issues

Some local newspapers pointed out that the behaviour of the "Bus Uncle" theoretically contravened the general code of conduct of bus passengers, in that it:

1. constituted a criminal offence, according to Section 46(1)(a), (n)(ii)^[8] and 57(1)^[9] of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations,^[10] which carries a maximum penalty of HKD$3000 and a 6-month imprisonment; and
2. constituted an offence under Section 17B(2) of the Public Order Ordinance, which carries a maximum penalty of HKD$5000 and 12-months imprisonment.^[11]

His behaviour could also constitute Criminal Intimidation, an offence under Section 24 of the Crimes Ordinance which carries a maximum penalty of HKD$2000 and 5 years imprisonment.^[12]

Nevertheless, he was not charged with any of these offences.

[edit] Social impacts

[edit] International coverage

The video clip, having been subtitled in English (in parts erroneously, though never straying too far from general tenor of the Cantonese), has penetrated Western media and been widely syndicated, and reported in prominent international journals in late May 2006, such as the New York Times, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail and the Wall Street Journal.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Effects on popular culture in Hong Kong

The famous quotes of Bus Uncle are now frequently used, mimicked, and parodied in Hong Kong, particularly by teenagers. The catch phrases also appear on Internet forums, posters, and radio programmes.^[13][14] Various karaoke versions, a rap song and parodies have been created using the catchphrases, including versions tuned to Cantonese pop songs,^[15] an apology, "reenactments" of the incident with video game characters, composite pictures, and movie posters.^[16] On May 28, 2006, this incident was mentioned on the main evening news on TVB, as well as Cable TV news.

[edit] Parodies of the video

In June 2006, TVB television made a parody of the Bus Uncle video in its television promotion for its coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The advertisement featured TVB sports commentator Lam Sheung-Yee (林尚義), whose voice resembles Chan's, on a bus playing the role of the Bus Uncle. In the promotion, a passenger sitting behind Lam Sheung-Yee (played by Lam Man Chung) questions whether Lam Sheung-Yee feels pressured for his responsibilities in the upcoming World Cup, which would be his last TV appearance before retirement. Turning around, Lam replies that there is no pressure and emphasizes that the issue (i.e. the viewers' demand for World Cup coverage) has been resolved. The passenger then offers to shake hands with Lam Sheung-Yee and calls for a truce.

Another re-enactment of the Bus Uncle scene is an advertisement for a type of bottled water sold at the supermarket chain PARKnSHOP.^{[citation needed]} Furthermore, sitcoms of ATV and TVB also imitated the video in argument scenes.^[17]

[edit] A closer look at life in Hong Kong

Although many found the video humorous and entertaining, others warned that it hints at a more alarming and sinister prognosis of life in stress-filled Hong Kong. The fact that it was runner-up "Person of the Year" announced by RTHK indicated that it may have struck a chord with the general population.^[18]

To Kit, a well-known columnist, made a commentary about the incident on Commercial Radio. He described the behavior of Bus Uncle as "a noise raping" and said that the incident was the manifestation of underlying social tension as well as the mindset of a common Chinese person. He criticised Elvis' speechlessness as being too weak, likewise a stereotype of present-day Hong Kong youth. In addition, he noted that the incident implied that harmony in the neighborhood was somehow upset.

Dr. Lee Sing, director of the Hong Kong Mood Centre at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, warned that Hong Kong's high-stress working environments are spawning a city-full of "Bus Uncles". Dr. Lee estimated that one out of every 50 grumpy Hong Kongers is a "ticking time bomb" of rage and violence.^[19]

[edit] Criticism of Hong Kong media ethics

Nonetheless, others denied any social insights could be gleamed from the video clip, arguing that the frenzy was artificially created by sensationalist newspapers in order to boost circulation and profits. Media ethicists charged the media with making and not reporting news. Clement So York-kee, Director of the School of Journalism at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, warned that methods to uncover Bus Uncle news "did not seem to...[involve the] traditional practice of news reporting."^{[citation needed]} For example, several media outlets offered rewards on unmasking Uncle Bus' identity. In late May 2006, a group of journalists and photographers initiated and followed Chan's second meeting with Ho. After Ho's refusal, they brought Bus Uncle to a dinner and karaoke session. Although the session was widely reported, many believed it was artificially created news and unworthy of front-page attention.

Others argued the frenzy was not the product of a media conspiracy but rather a reflection of the public's curiosity and of Hong Kong's consumer-driven media market.

[edit] References

[edit] Other references

• 240萬人次看巴士短片 青年現身　大叔痛罵︰你有壓力 我都有壓力, A22, Society (社會要聞), 尤弘毅, Hong Kong Economic Times, May 24, 2006
• 潮爆「巴士判官」 搞笑版登場, A22, Society (社會要聞), 尤弘毅, Hong Kong Economic Times, May 24, 2006
• "Bus Uncle taught me a lesson: take a different bus", South China Morning Post, May 30, 2006
• "Don't make me meet Bus Uncle again", South China Morning Post, Jun 1, 2006

[edit] External links

• "Wikia Hong Kong" 香港網絡大典 (Chinese)
• 「巴士判官」的啟示．一 (Chinese)
• 「巴士判官」的啟示．二 (Chinese)
• 「巴士判官」的啟示．三 (Chinese)
• "The 'Bus Youngster' Interviewed with Hong Kong Economic Times"「巴士少年接受經濟日報訪問!」 (Traditional Chinese)