Get to know your new neighbours with HK-POP (Hong Kong-POP)
Joyce Chiang, Communications Manager of Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers
Compared to the days when I studied in the UK in 2005, I am happy to see that the visibility of East Asian culture here has greatly increased in recent years. Now, when entering a random Waterstones, it's not difficult to find a sizable Manga section, mostly consisting of Japanese Manga. Korean Pop (K-POP) has also become increasingly popular, and not only with young people from an East Asian background. When I talk about K-POP, some of my local friends can now mention groups like BlackPink, BTS, Twice, etc.
(photo source: MIRROR facebook page)
K-POP has gained popularity amongst Hong Kongers, and I am also a fan of Blackpink myself. However, for many Hong Kongers (including myself), their favourite boy/girl groups would be those from Hong Kong, with the most popular probably being MIRROR, a Hong Kong boy group with 12 members.
When you walk on the streets in Hong Kong, it is not unusual to see people just stop suddenly and take photos towards a certain direction - probably, some big LED TV showing a commercial or an image of a MIRROR member. On the birthday of one of the band’s members, fans paid to take over the outdoor billboards in Causeway Bay, the busiest district of Hong Kong. Thousands of fans flocked there to take pictures with these billboards. It may be hard to imagine for those living in the UK, but that’s the enthusiasm of the MIRROR fans in Hong Kong.
On the birthday of Keung To, a member of MIRROR, fans flocked to Causeway Bay to celebrate (photo source: MingPao)
The boy/girl group culture in Hong Kong has only matured in recent years. While there were boy/girl groups before, they never became as popular as MIRROR. It all started with the reality TV show "Kingmaker," which created a new free TV channel where audiences could witness the growth and improvement of a group of boys from nobodies to great performers. The idol culture of Korea also contributed to the way MIRROR fans support their idols in Hong Kong. This has made MIRROR the most influential boy band in Hong Kong, and they are very popular among the marketers of top brands.
A girl group COLLAR, which originated from the same reality show, also emerged last year, 3 years after MIRROR was set up, and rapidly gained popularity.
(photo source: Keung Show UK Candies)
With around 130,000 Hong Kongers having moved to the UK in the past two years, there are quite a number of MIRROR/COLLAR fans amongst them. Of course, you may not see as many fans gathering on the streets in the UK as you do in Hong Kong, but fans still gather remotely to support their idols on special occasions, such as on their birthdays or when their films are screened. You may also see some shops run by Hong Kongers giving out souvenir cards of a member or members of MIRROR/COLLAR on these special occasions, which is also a way for fans to introduce their idols to more people.
(photo source: MIRROR facebook page)
With the language barrier, it may be difficult for fans to introduce their idols to locals in the UK. However, the boy band MIRROR has just launched ‘Rumours’, their first English-language song, making it easier for non-Cantonese speakers to understand their performance. This may be a good chance for anyone interested in Hong Kong culture, Hong Kong pop, or just wanting to get to know more about their new neighbours, to learn more. Ask any Hong Konger about MIRROR/COLLAR and they can probably show you the way.
(Disclaimer: the writer of this article is a fan of another Hong Kong boy group, ERROR)