A mainland Chinese contestant in the Miss Hong Kong Pageant audition sparked public debate after struggling to pronounce Cantonese phrases like “tomato sauce” and “beef brisket noodles”.
The contestant, surnamed Wen, told panellists during her second-round audition on Wednesday that she was working hard to learn Cantonese while attempting to pronounce the phrases correctly. Clips circulated widely online, prompting criticism from some users who questioned her application without fluency in the local language.
Another contestant who returned from the United Kingdom for the audition also appeared less fluent in Cantonese and asked panellists to use English.
A political observer noted that fluency in Cantonese need not be the sole focus and suggested the organiser add more local cultural elements to the contest. The Hong Kong Top Talent Services Association called for greater inclusion to help preserve the city’s culture.
The Miss Hong Kong Pageant is organised by TVB, with auditions ongoing this year.