Hong Kong Cancellation Backfires

Cosmetics company Lancome’s decision to cancel a concert it was sponsoring by Hong Kong Cantopop singer Denise Ho has backfired in a big way.

Photo: AP Photo / Kin Cheung

at a Lancome counter inside a Hong Kong department store June 8.

Lancome called off the concert after netizens in mainland China threatened to boycott the brand due to Ho’s pro-Hong Kong independence stance, and the move has sparked a backlash among Hong Kong residents who are now calling for their own boycott of Lancome for caving to political pressure.

The anti-Ho movement is generally seen as being orchestrated by the Communist Party, according to the Washington Post, and on June 8 Hong Kong stores operated by Lancome’s parent company, L’Oreal, were picketed by protesters who circulated a petition to boycott the company’s products.

Lancome canceled the promotional event/concert scheduled for June 19 due to “possible safety reasons.” Ho subsequently was interviewed by BBC, saying that she was shocked that Lancome would succumb to pressure. She lamented that “self-censorship” had become a huge problem in Hong Kong of late.