Hong Kong funny man Kenneth Ng gives out advice to Carrie Lam at World Clown Association Convention in Bangkok, which is still in mourning over king’s death
As Hong Kong’s new leader reflects on a baptism of political fire and ponders the stark reality of making good on , advice has arrived from an unlikely quarter. In the week that saw Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor elected the first woman to run the city of just over 7.3 million people on a mandate of 777 votes from an electorate representing less that 0.2 per cent of the population, it has been suggested that she, quite literally, “send in the clowns”. The advice comes from 36-year-old Tuen Mun resident, Kenneth Ng – who doubles as “Ken Ken the Clown”, a senior member of the 50-strong delegation representing the city at the World Clown Association Convention in the Thai capital Bangkok last week. As apart of the Chinese nation, Hong Kong’s presence on the international convention circuit is normally limited, but not so at this global gathering where the SAR made up the biggest single delegation. More than 200 funny men and women from 16 countries and jurisdictions as diverse as Puerto Rico and Malaysia came together to compete in competitions, generally clown around and spread some joy to the disadvantaged of a country still in an official state of mourning following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej half a year ago. “At 50 our delegation is the biggest single group at the convention,’’ said Ng who holds the distinction of being the first-ever Chinese balloon twister to strut his stuff for US theme park giant Disneyland.
