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Critics of Jacky Chan wrong on donating houses
By Ni Tao |
May 16, 2013, Thursday
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Print Edition
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JACKY Chan's planned donation of several antique homes to a Singaporean university sparked a furor a few weeks ago, threatening to tarnish the Hong Kong superstar's image as an ardent patriot.
Last week Chan finally decided to respond to critics about his motives. He said he had been approached by domestic businessmen asking whether the old structures could be consigned to them.
Later Chan found out their true intention. They promised restoration of the dilapidated houses in exchange for Chan's endorsement of their property projects. Chan refused.
He didn't wish to be exploited by those who masked their profit-seeking pursuits in the guise of cultural preservation appreciation of relics, Chan was quoted as saying.
It's unclear if critics are pleased at his explanation, but they missed the right target.
It's unfair to criticize the film star at a time when decimation of old architecture works is in full throttle, with some local authorities guilty of complicity, if not participation.
As the Chinese saying goes, rarity increases the value of objects.
The scarcity of the elaborate old wooden structures that Chan proposed to donate makes them more welcome in Singapore than in their native villages, where they are likely to be left to rot or torn down.
The number of architectural relics is dwindling, but sadly advocacy for their protection is not vocal enough.
Pervasive lack of appreciation of their beauty and history only reveals the cynicism of the backlash against Chan.
A few experts argued that instead of heaping blame on the actor, attention should be focused on many valuable old structures on the verge of demolition.
While it's easy to point fingers at Chan for his seemingly unpatriotic decision to donate relics overseas, his critics should reflect on what they can do as citizens to save China's valuable architectures, instead of opposing any plan to send them overseas where, ironically, they may be better protected and valued.
Last week Chan finally decided to respond to critics about his motives. He said he had been approached by domestic businessmen asking whether the old structures could be consigned to them.
Later Chan found out their true intention. They promised restoration of the dilapidated houses in exchange for Chan's endorsement of their property projects. Chan refused.
He didn't wish to be exploited by those who masked their profit-seeking pursuits in the guise of cultural preservation appreciation of relics, Chan was quoted as saying.
It's unclear if critics are pleased at his explanation, but they missed the right target.
It's unfair to criticize the film star at a time when decimation of old architecture works is in full throttle, with some local authorities guilty of complicity, if not participation.
As the Chinese saying goes, rarity increases the value of objects.
The scarcity of the elaborate old wooden structures that Chan proposed to donate makes them more welcome in Singapore than in their native villages, where they are likely to be left to rot or torn down.
The number of architectural relics is dwindling, but sadly advocacy for their protection is not vocal enough.
Pervasive lack of appreciation of their beauty and history only reveals the cynicism of the backlash against Chan.
A few experts argued that instead of heaping blame on the actor, attention should be focused on many valuable old structures on the verge of demolition.
While it's easy to point fingers at Chan for his seemingly unpatriotic decision to donate relics overseas, his critics should reflect on what they can do as citizens to save China's valuable architectures, instead of opposing any plan to send them overseas where, ironically, they may be better protected and valued.
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