Facebook group backed by HK authorities apologises for newsjacking attempt

A Facebook group backed by the Hong Kong authorities has apologised for its lack of gender sensitivity, after it attempted to newsjack a transgender woman fleeing from the police in Tsim Sha Tsui.  Also known as “Keep Clean Ambassador Ah Tak”, the group has drawn mixed reactions after it joked about a transgender woman escaping from the police last Friday.

The post said that Ah Tak, a dinosaur mascot commissioned by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department was wandering around Tsim Sha Tsui and saw a few men trying to help a woman make her way to the ground from a low level unit.  It said: “Ai! Today, I looked up for a while and now I have to wash my eyes…” The post also described the woman having leg hair.

The initial intent of the post was to explain that having a leaky air-conditioning unit carried a penalty of HK$10,000.

The post has drawn heated discussions as some netizens commenting that women also have leg hair, and several commentators shared that they were overwhelmed by the lack of gender sensitivity of the Hong Kong authorities, a check by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE saw on its Facebook. 

Soon after the incident, the social media group apologised for its lack of gender sensitivity and awareness, adding that it will continue to promote a cleaner Hong Kong in other better ways. 

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