busker

Implausible applause

For those of us growing up in post-war Hong Kong, we needed no lessons in politics to realise there was something dodgy about our mainland neighbours.

When it came to saluting achievement, there were the applauders and the applaudees. Those doing the clapping did it with moderate gusto and approving smiles while the applauDEES nodded modestly and raised the occasional hand as if to say, "Please - too much."

All except our mainland Chinese brethren who threw the whole thing out by clapping right back and confusing the whole ceremony.

Today, I see everyone doing it, from game shows to Olympic sportives. We are all commies now.