Speak Out

This has bothered me for my past 3 year experience working in HK as a Media person, and this shit haunted me again this morning when I went out at North Point, trying to catch interviews from soccer fans, who hang out inside those HK-style cafe during live EURO matches.

All I want is just to get short words from those "fans" about their opinion towards the matches.  I really admired the creativity of HK people, to think of different unique excuses not to be on camera for interviews....

Some says,

they sneaked out from their workplace since no supervisor was presented at their early shift.

Some says,

they owed a lot of money from others and prefer not to be on screen.

Some says,

I am okay to be interviewed, but not in front of a camera.

But the one that pissed me off, was a 20-30 years old chinese guy, with glasses...

He was wearing a gold color SWEDEN team jersey, a special edition I believe...

(since tonight SWEDEN vs RUSSIA, and they need at least a TIE game to advance)

He was with two other friends inside the cafe, watching the 2nd half at around 10 minutes left...

Here is the conversation:

Me: "Hey, nice SWEDEN jersey.  I bet you are a Sweden fan."

XX: "I am a ENGLAND fan actually."

Me: "But you are also wearing a Sweden jersey too.  Do you like Sweden?"

XX: "I have plenty of golden color jersey and it just happen to be a Sweden jersey."

Me: "..... "

Me: ".... Alright! So, would you mind if we ask u just 1-2 short question about your take on tonight's game?"

XX: "Oh, I cannot talk fluently."

Me: "... Okay... sorry for bothering. Thanks!"

(WTF!)

So therefore, EMPTY HANDED tonight. I didn't get any interviews from this cafe. No luck for me, I guess.  But my frustration towards HK people (not every HK people, but some!) is that...

WHY in the hell that everyone is so scared about cameras?

In my 2-year experience covering the NBA All-Star Game at the states (Houston & Las Vegas), I never have any problem catching interviews on the street.  Not only getting people to talk, they also enjoy sharing their thoughts with others, and speak their mind.

But I guess it just wont happen like that in Hong Kong.WHY?I heard every word that you guys say after I got rejected by you people for doing interviews. I heard every thing you guys talk about the game when our cameraman is still outside the cafe. I really do not have any problem with people having their own personal reasons not to be interviewed.

Don't get me wrong... I totally understand, except that f**ked-up Sweden-jersey sucker...

You are lucky that I was representing my company, out there working our ass off to catch these less-than-1-minute interviews....

I wanna say... what's wrong with being in front of camera, just to SPEAK OUT?

In Toronto, people even put money in a machine, and record their words inside the "SPEAKER'S CORNER", which will be aired randomly on television.

SPEAK OUT!!! SPEAK UP!!!

P.S.  I guess I just miss Toronto too much!