Chow can be a good adviser

The list of names of the 11th Guangdong provincial political advisory body, which includes several Hong Kong movie stars, was approved recently. The name of Stephen Chow, the most famous movie star on the list, has sparked heated discussions because people think he has never been interested in politics, says an article in Beijing News. Excerpts:

Even before the release of his new film, Odyssey, actor, director Stephen Chow has hit the headlines by being included as a member of the political advisory body of Guangdong province.

People cannot relate the hilarious character of Chow - thanks to his casual and funny image on the big screen - with that of a serious political advisory body member. People have this idea also because Chow has seldom taken part in political activities. He is very much unlike Jackie Chan, who always makes high-profile speeches, or Annie Inoh, the actress and writer from Taiwan, who has shown a keen interest in current affairs and is involved in charity.

Moreover, people have always thought that Chow has been indifferent to the outside world.

Reality, however, could be otherwise and people might have misunderstood Chow. By being elected as a member of a provincial political advisory body, Chow has shown his concern for and devotion to society. It is obvious that people look up to him with hope, and expect him to come up with proposals that would benefit society as a whole. They also want him to fulfill his obligations and succeed in his new role as political adviser just as he has done as an actor and director.

Chow's decision to assume more social responsibility and contribute to the betterment of society should be praised. There is no need for people to doubt his abilities as a provincial political adviser. And we hope that, as a member of Guangdong provincial political advisory body, he doesn't let down the people who believe in him.

Curb alcohol ads on TV

Zhao Pengda, an 81 year old academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has used his weibo account to criticize the "flood" of liquor and wine advertisements during China Central Television's evening news. He has even calculated that there were 16 such advertisements during a 30-minute news telecast, which should be a matter of concern, says an article in Xi'an Evening News. Excerpts:

Excess intake of alcohol is detrimental to health. According to a recent survey, alcohol has affected the health of more than half of the drinkers. Moreover, the drinking culture in China is nothing to be proud of and could even lead to corruption, and there are many examples to prove that.

Also, drunk driving has become one of the biggest safety problems in our society. According to the Ministry of Public Security's statistics, about 354,000 drunk driving cases were reported between May 1, 2011, and April 20, 2012. And that figure, for all we know, is increasing.

More importantly, the flood of liquor advertisements in the media could entice people to consume alcohol at a very young, which can be harmful to their health and cause social problems.

TV channels are a public broadcasting platform. Therefore, instead of encouraging people to consume alcohol, they should telecast programs that caution drinkers and promote moderation. TV channels should not only telecast programs that they think viewers want, but also what is really good for them in order to fulfill their social responsibilities.

And it's time the authorities imposed some restrictions on the promotion of alcohol in the media.

(China Daily 01/18/2013 page9)