The Bus Uncle

2006 viral video

The Bus Uncle is a Hong Kong Cantonese viral video depicting a verbal altercation between two men aboard a KMB bus in Hong Kong on 27 April 2006. The older and more belligerent of the two men was quickly nicknamed the "Bus Uncle", from the common Hong Kong practice of referring to older men as "Uncle" (阿叔). The altercation was recorded by a nearby passenger and uploaded to the Hong Kong Golden Forum, YouTube, and Google Video. The video became YouTube's most viewed video in May 2006, attracting viewers with the Bus Uncle's rhetorical outbursts and copious use of profanity, receiving 1.7 million hits in the first 3 weeks of that month. The video became a cultural sensation in Hong Kong, sparking debate and discussion on lifestyle, etiquette, civic awareness and media ethics within the city, and attracted the attention from media outlets around the world.

The incident took place at approximately 11pm on 27 April 2006 on the upper deck of a KMB Volvo Super Olympian double decker The older man turned around and started a monologue, ranting about being unnecessarily provoked under stress. However, Fong told reporters that he "often takes videos as a hobby, and had just planned to share this one with friends." The "Bus Uncle" title for the video was coined by members of an Internet forum in reference to the older man in the video. In Hong Kong, it is common to refer to an older man as "Uncle" (阿叔), hence the English translation "The Bus Uncle". Lam's name appears as part of the title of the original video. Contrary to reports in Western media, the word "Uncle" (阿叔) was not used. On 28 May 2006, this incident was mentioned on the main evening news on TVB, as well as Cable TV news. News of the video clip later reached Western media and was widely syndicated and has received coverage from Channel NewsAsia, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal. On 23 May 2006, 23 year old property agent Elvis Ho Yui Hei ,

Elvis Ho regularly commuted home from work on the bus and reported that he often asked passengers to lower their voices so he could sleep during his trip. Ho said he forgave "Bus Uncle" and sympathized with whatever stress the older man was suffering from. After his identity was revealed, Chan was criticized for reportedly demanding remuneration for interviews.

Sing Tao Daily reported that Chan visited Ho's office on 31 May 2006 in Mong Kok to apologize for the dispute and to initiate a business proposal for the duo to hold a "Bus Uncle Rave Party". Chan was quickly rejected and expelled by Ho, who expressed outrage towards the journalists who arranged the meeting and threatened legal action against the press. Ming Pao opined that the use of profanity by the "Bus Uncle" and threatening behavior theoretically contravened the general code of conduct of bus passengers, and that he had violated two public order laws – Section 46(1)(a), (n)(ii) and 57(1) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, and Section 17B(2) of the Public Order Ordinance – which potentially carried financial penalties and imprisonment. Next Magazine journalists interviewed Chan at his home in Yuen Long, and his interview became the magazine's cover story on 1 June 2006. On 7 June 2006, Chan, who had been hired as a Public Relations officer in the Steak Expert restaurant chain, was physically assaulted at work by three unidentified masked men who then fled the scene.

Some of Chan's quotes were later frequently used, mimicked, and parodied in Hong Kong, particularly by teenagers. 「你有壓力，我有壓力」("You have stress, I have stress"), 「未解決！」("It's not settled!") have become catchphrases on Internet forums, posters, and radio programmes. Various remixes have been created of the video, including pop, Merchandise such as cartoon T shirts and mobile phone ringtones have also been produced and sold on the Internet. Sitcoms produced by ATV and TVB have also referenced the video in argument scenes. In episode 67 of the TVB sitcom Welcome to the House (高朋滿座), the young bespectacled main character tried to stop a man from talking too loudly on the mobile phone in the cinema. As a result, he was harshly rebuked by the man. Once his family knew about the incident from a video uploaded on the Internet, they taught the character to be more assertive and not to allow himself to be bullied. In the end, he was able to stand up to the same man when they met again in the cinema and remove him from the premises.

Although many found the video humorous and entertaining, others warned that it hinted at a more alarming and sinister prognosis of life in stress filled Hong Kong and other overcrowded areas. Journalism professor and Internet expert Anthony Fung Ying him also attributed the popularity of the low resolution video of a "trivial event" to the emotional climate of the city.

Ah Nong (阿濃, J: aa3 nung4, P: Ā Nóng), a popular literary figure and artist in Hong Kong, believed that the incident highlighted the apathy of the common Hong Kong people. He emphasised that during the heated exchange between Chan and Ho, not a single bystander came to Ho's aid. He recalled an incident a few years back where he confronted a man smoking on the lower deck of a bus and was scolded for the rest of the journey. He said it was useless to complain to the bus driver who would not bother to waste his time, let alone the other passengers. Ah Nong argued that in such a society, a person can be accused of wrongdoing despite good intentions. There was support for Ho's desire for a lower volume as well as sympathy for the stress felt by the "Bus Uncle." Speaking about the incident on Commercial Radio, Journalist Chip Tsao described Chan's behaviour as "noise raping" and said that the incident was a manifestation of underlying social tension as well as the mindset of a "common Hongkonger". He criticised Ho as being a stereotype of present day Hong Kong youth – speechless and too weak. Chan's placement as runner up "Person of the Year" announced by Radio Television Hong Kong was seen by Michael DeGolyer of the Hong Kong Standard that it might have struck a chord with the general population. Ng Fung Sheung, a social science lecturer of the City University of Hong Kong, explained that Hong Kong people tend to chat loudly in public places. She attributed this phenomenon to the television screens found in many vehicles and trains, which broadcast programmes at high volumes. She suggested that the government should provide better civic education for the public to make them more considerate of others. When it comes to schools which banned the usage of catch phrases like "I'm stressed!" Ng stated that teachers must be able to distinguish whether the students really face pressure or are simply following the trend, and provide guidance if necessary. For example, several media outlets offered rewards on unmasking Bus Uncle's identity. In late May 2006, a group of journalists and photographers initiated and followed Chan's second meeting with Ho. After Ho's refusal, they brought Bus Uncle to a dinner and karaoke session. Ta Kung Pao stated that the Bus Uncle incident tested the professionalism of the Hong Kong mass media, its editorial noting that Chan sought remuneration for interviews and made many extraordinary claims about himself which were published without verification. The editorial concluded by advising journalists not to fabricate news, but instead to emphasise the verifiability of stories and consider carefully whether an incident is newsworthy. Others held that the frenzy was not the product of a media conspiracy, but rather a reflection of the public's curiosity and Hong Kong's competitive consumer driven media market. In the aftermath, other videos featuring similar public outbursts were published, including a video depicting a female at Hong Kong International Airport who became hysterical after missing her flight which was viewed 750,000 times in five days.