Gau wu

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Gau Wu (Chinese: 鳩嗚) (Cantonese pronunciation: Gau1 Wu1), is an expression that originated after an interview clip in August, 2014.[citation needed] The expression means “disorderly shouting” or “squabbling over nothing”. Since 2014, "Gau Wu” has become a street expression, often translated from Cantonese as ”shopping”, since the expression is homophonic with “shopping” in Mandarin (購物 gòu wù). It represents a means of expressing discontent with various issues like the Individual Visit Scheme, parallel traders and the “831 Decision.”

Origin

“Gau Wu” was originally used during an interview with a Chinese National whom participated in a rally of the “Sign for Peace and Democracy Movement,” expressing her opposition to Occupy Central on August 17, 2014. On the day of the anti-Occupy Central rally, a reporter from HK Cable TV interviewed her and inquired about her role in the event. In Cantonese she replied that she had come to Hong Kong for 'entertainment.' The reporter then asked her what she had planned to do for fun in Hong Kong, and she replied that she was going to shop ("Gau Wu").[1] The term "Gau Wu" has since been used as a satire of the anti-Occupy Central movement. It is also used to denote a type of demonstration, disguised as patronizing a business district (see details below).

Background

Following an interim injunction order executed the day before, a pro-democracy encampment in Mong Kok affiliated with the Umbrella Movement was cleared by the Hong Kong police force. Following this clearance, Hong Kong's Chief Executive CY Leung encouraged Hong Kong people and Mainland visitors to shop in Mong Kok in order to support the local businesses.[2] As a political tactic, Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters returned to Sai Yeung Choi Street South, a major street in Mong Kok, claiming that they were following the advice of the Chief Executive. They then started “Gau Wu” or the “Shopping Revolution” by pretending to shop in busy districts, blocking roads and exhausting police force in a flash mob style.[3] Protesters made use of the fact that it was difficult for the police to distinguish between real and "fake" tourists going shopping. The aim was to confuse and provoke the police, and it became a strategy for pressuring the HKSAR Government and continuing the protests' call for “genuine universal suffrage”.

Timeline

26 November 2014

Immediately after the execution of the court injunction of the Mong Kok encampment, pro-democracy protesters assembled in Mong Kok to express their discontent over the police clearance operation by pretending to shop in Mong Kok.

Late-November to Mid-December

Clashes between pretended shoppers and the police broke out from time to time. As the pro-democracy protest continued and extended from Mong Kok to Tsim Sha Tsui, police increased their presence, demanded people show identification, donned riot gear at some levels, and made more arrests during the process. The protesters taunted and criticized the police for using excessive violence.

Mid-December

After the clearance of two pro-democracy encampments in Admiralty and Causeway Bay on December 11th 2014, protesters attempted to escalate the campaign by extending the protest area back into Admiralty and Causeway Bay and into Central Bay. Owing to the end of the Occupy Central Movement, activists organized new “shopping events" and "Christmas caroling tours" in the above busy shopping districts. Due to the fear of chaos breaking out in the "Shopping Revolution”, the New Year's Eve countdown at Times Square in Causeway Bay was cancelled. The Christmas caroling tour debuted on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Pro-democracy protesters held yellow umbrellas and paper crosses, pretending to shop in Causeway Bay’s shopping district.[4]

Early 2015

Rather than a means of pursuing “genuine Universal Suffrage”, "Gau Wu" or the “Shopping Revolution” has crossed the line into anti-mainland Chinese citizen sentiment.[5] Radical activists expressed discontent towards mainland China citizens who are parallel traders due to the perceived disturbance by Hong Kong residents that this activity interferes to some extent by impacting their livelihood by pretending to shop in shopping malls. “Recover Yuen Long” on March 1st was the most serious of three rounds of protest in the past which took place in Tuen Mun and Shatin. Thirty-three protesters were arrested and accused of possessing offensive weapons, assaulting the police, and indecent assault.[6]

Although "Gau Wu" still continued, the series of protests pursuing “Genuine Universal Suffrage” were not as frequent as in 2014. There were fewer citizens participating in the protest.

Impact of “Gau Wu” on Hong Kong

Cultural Meaning

“Gau Wu” was ranked seventh among the "Top 10 Buzzwords of 2014" by Yahoo.[7] It was also a focal point for protests in busy districts like Nathan Road during the Umbrella Movement. There are 1,170 videos concerning “Gau Wu” on YouTube. Spin-offs were created, like “Gau Wu Everyday” by Mocking Jer which received a total of 730,725 views on YouTube.[8]

Advocate of The Limiting Individual Visit Scheme

Although the Individual Visit Scheme reinvigorated Hong Kong’s economy and stimulated local economic growth over the past decade, protesters participating in “Gau Wu” expressed discontent over the overwhelming number of mainland tourists. This has raised the concern over the carrying capacity of Hong Kong. It has sparked a discussion within the government over whether a new phase of the Individual Visit Scheme should be implemented in order to tighten the control of the number of mainland tourists coming to Hong Kong.[9]

Worsening Relationship Between Hong Kong Residents and Mainlanders

“Gau Wu” is often criticized for encouraging discrimination by Hong Kong residents against visiting "shopping" mainland Chinese citizens. This is manifested by Hong Kong residents expressing concerns over the disruption their local lifestyle. In the face of the escalation of the “Shopping" protest, a lot of Chinese mainlanders think that they are being singled out, or being discriminated against, by Hong Kong residents. This has created a hostility between Hong Kong citizens and Chinese mainlanders.[10]

Decline in customers

Due to the continuous “Gau Wu” (Shopping Revolution) which opposes Chinese mainland parallel traders, the latter have recorded a decline in pharmacy, boutique and cosmetic sales.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ I-Cable 有參加遊行人士不清楚遊行目的. (October 17, 2014). Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ Epoch Times Hong Kong: Police Stop People From ‘Shopping’ in Mong Kok. (November 26, 2014). Retrieved March 16, 2015
  3. ↑ Hongwrong.com. Hongwrong.com. Umbrella Movement Lives On With The Rise of The “Shopping Revolution”. (December 17, 2014). Retrieved March 16, 2015
  4. ↑ Epoch Times Hong Kong: Police Arrest 12 Protesters Around Christmas Day. (December 26, 2014). Retrieved March 16, 2015
  5. ↑ The Diplomat Anti-Mainland Sentiment on the Rise in Hong Kong. (February 24, 2015). Retrieved March 16, 2015
  6. ↑ The Standard Locals battle anti-mainland protesters. (March 2, 2015). Retrieved March 16, 2015
  7. ↑ Yahoo! Press Room Yahoo Hong Kong Top Buzz 2014 – Local and International News. (December 14, 2014). Retrieved March 16, 2015
  8. ↑ YouTube《日日去鳩嗚》華仔落場版MV. (December 23, 2014) Retrieved March 16, 2015
  9. ↑ Hong Kong Law Blog Individual Visit Scheme- Time to Stop? (February 25, 2015). Retrieved March 16, 2015
  10. ↑ The Straits Times Triumphant Chinese media declares Hong Kong pro-democracy 'revolution' defeated. (December 12, 2014). Retrieved March 16, 2015
  11. ↑ Yahoo! News Hong Kong「光復」一個月 沙田商場人流減. (March 16, 2015). Retrieved March 16, 2015
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