A media activist, researcher and educator currently based in Hong Kong. My Twitter account is @oiwan and personal views are published on: patreon.com/oiwan
Latest posts by Oiwan Lam from September, 2013
Chinese City Invites Web Users to Correct Its ‘Chinglish’
To attract more foreigners to work in Shenzhen, the city has launched a campaign to wipe out poorly translated public signs.
Chinese Rethink Capital Punishment after Execution of Xia Junfeng
The public opinion in China is in support of capital punishment. However, many netizens reflect upon their stand after the execution of street vendor Xia Junfeng. Offbeat China highlights the discussion.
China: Finding Light in the Darkness on Xia Junfeng's Execution Day
The latest artwork from a cartoon blogger "A sad morning dream" tries to make sense of the execution of Xia Junfeng, a street vendor convicted of murder.
Hong Kong: Typhoon Usagi Passed Nearby
The ‘storm of the century’, Typhoon Usagi, passed through southern China last night had only costed some inconvenience in Hong Kong, such as disrupted transportation service and panic buying in supermarket. Tom Grundy from Hong Wrong has a nice collection of photos and videos on the slightly disturbed city life.
Chinese Teenager Accused of Spreading Rumors Online Arrested
The 16-year-old junior high school student had published comments online questioning the official explanation of the recent death of a local worker.
How To Handle A Chinese Government Raid
Dan Harris from China Law Blog gave some advices on how to handle a Chinese government raid. The blogger stressed the importance of not volunteering information to the government.
Chinese Micro-bloggers Want to Un-verify User Account
As Big Vs, verified celebrities in Chinese micr-blog, have become crackdown targets. Some verified users are asking Sina Weibo to Un-verify their account. More from Offbeat China.
Opinion Leader Charles Xue Forced to Prostitute Himself on Chinese State TV
Charles Xue's self criticism in front of CCTV reminded many of the "class struggle session" during the Cultural Revolution.
China Detains Activist Billionaire Wang Gongquan Amid Crackdown on Dissent
Beijing police arrested and detained billionaire venture capitalist Wang Gongquan, a latest move in cracking down the emerging civil society in China.
Chinese Reactions to Tokyo Olympics 2020
Offbeat China blogs about mainland Chinese netizens initial reactions to the success of Tokyo in winning the 2020 Olympics.
Petition Call to Ban Ivory Trade in Hong Kong
Tom Grundy has more background about the local Hong Kong law on illegal ivory trade.
Music Flashmob in Hong Kong Times Square
An independent folk rock band, Noughts and Exes, teamed up with a number of indie bands occupied the Times Square in Hong Kong and held a flashmob music performance last weekend.
In Cage with Chinese Political Activist Wang Bingzhang
More background information about Wang Bingzhang.
Chinese Pop Song: Rule Breaking Animal
Rensi from ChinaSMACK translated and explained the lyrics of a recently released pop song, ‘Rule-Breaking Animals’, written by a 27-year-old independent singer-songwriter Xu Song. The song is about the conflict between chengguan (city management officers) and street vendors and it has generated more than 12 million listen in QQ music...
Story Behind the “Cancelled” Beijing Independent Film Festival
Like other sensitive events, the Beijing Independent Film Festival was announced cancelled but quietly had its full program of screenings and panels held on schedule, except the opening ceremony. Liz Tung from Beijing Cream interviewed the festival's artistic director Dong Bingfeng on the story behind “cancellation”.
Chinese Tomboy Image Gets Popular
Offbeat China blogs about the rise of a new Chinese woman image – Nu Hanzi, meaning manly woman or Tomboy. The blog has also translated the 20 typical characters of a Nu Hanzi.
Hong Kong: A Cautionary Tale for Taiwan
A group of 300 individuals in Hong Kong published a statement in Taiwanese newspapers warning the Taiwan society against Sinicisation [i.e. the bad influence of mainland China]. The statement has two versions one published in Hong Kong and one in Taiwan. Dictionary of Politically Incorrect Hong Kong Cantonese has translated...