Immigration: About new citizens
Ha! This gives me an opportunity to bring some glamour to this blog for the first time.
By the way, this -- in my humble opinion -- is her best movie...
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Today 12 November 2008
CHINESE NETIZENS SLAM ACTRESS OVER SWITCH
BEIJING — Chinese actress Gong Li's decision to become a Singapore citizen
sparked an online debate in China on Tuesday, with many branding her a
traitor but others defending the star. Ms Gong, who served recently as a
Chinese parliament delegate, collected her Singapore citizenship over the
weekend.
The move requires her to forsake her Chinese citizenship, and the decision
triggered some fierce condemnation of the 43-year-old star of Farewell My
Concubine and Memoirs of a Geisha.
triggered some fierce condemnation of the 43-year-old star of Farewell My
Concubine and Memoirs of a Geisha.
"All traitors will be nailed to history's mast of shame. We should
resolutely reject any further contact with such people," said one post in
a chat forum on the popular portal Sohu.com. Added another: "Traitors like
this don't even love their own country. These people were only fake
countrymen of ours. Let them slink off to other countries and die!"
resolutely reject any further contact with such people," said one post in
a chat forum on the popular portal Sohu.com. Added another: "Traitors like
this don't even love their own country. These people were only fake
countrymen of ours. Let them slink off to other countries and die!"
Xinhua news agency said speculation that she was actively seeking foreign
citizenship resulted in Ms Gong being left off the list of delegates at
the session of parliament earlier this year. However, many people also
expressed understanding for her decision, noting the pressure such stars
face in China and making veiled criticisms of life in the communist
country.
citizenship resulted in Ms Gong being left off the list of delegates at
the session of parliament earlier this year. However, many people also
expressed understanding for her decision, noting the pressure such stars
face in China and making veiled criticisms of life in the communist
country.
"Why doesn't anyone ask why people want to emigrate? We see one Chinese
person after another take United States citizenship," one person said on
Sohu. "Why don't we see Americans taking Chinese citizenship?" Another
suggested that many of the critics would leap at the chance to emigrate,
like a moth to the flame: "My compatriots, as you blab here, can you
really say you love your country? Ask yourself, how many of you are not
moths as well?"
person after another take United States citizenship," one person said on
Sohu. "Why don't we see Americans taking Chinese citizenship?" Another
suggested that many of the critics would leap at the chance to emigrate,
like a moth to the flame: "My compatriots, as you blab here, can you
really say you love your country? Ask yourself, how many of you are not
moths as well?"
The backlash comes after a spike this year in nationalist sentiments in
China. Those passions were partly triggered by Western criticism of a
crackdown on Tibetans following an uprising in March against Chinese rule.
China. Those passions were partly triggered by Western criticism of a
crackdown on Tibetans following an uprising in March against Chinese rule.
In Singapore, most Singaporeans were nonchalant about the news but
welcomed the actress to contribute to the nation, with discussions online
about the possibility of her acting in local drama productions.One
HardwareZone forum user said: "Welcome to Singapore. We have a big
superstar among us Singaporeans."
welcomed the actress to contribute to the nation, with discussions online
about the possibility of her acting in local drama productions.One
HardwareZone forum user said: "Welcome to Singapore. We have a big
superstar among us Singaporeans."
Singapore netizens also discussed the uproar in China's cyberspace over Ms
Gong's new citizenship and how "the disappointment must be huge". An
SGClub forum user said: "They should just get over it. Going as far as
calling her a fake is a little extreme. It's her life, let her do whatever
she wants. Renouncing her citizenship doesn't mean she's ashamed of being
Chinese." Others felt there was no need to fuss over the matter. "Frankly
Singapore is already home to a few Hong Kong celebrities ... really
nothing to shout about," said one person on SGClub.
Gong's new citizenship and how "the disappointment must be huge". An
SGClub forum user said: "They should just get over it. Going as far as
calling her a fake is a little extreme. It's her life, let her do whatever
she wants. Renouncing her citizenship doesn't mean she's ashamed of being
Chinese." Others felt there was no need to fuss over the matter. "Frankly
Singapore is already home to a few Hong Kong celebrities ... really
nothing to shout about," said one person on SGClub.
There was also speculation as to why Ms Gong took up Singapore
citizenship.
citizenship.
One person suggested on the Find Singapore forum: "As long as she is
working overseas, all her income are tax-free ... it's also easier for her
to travel to many countries visa-free, as well as easier to apply for
foreign PR and citizenship ... so you see, Gong Li is one smart cookie to
opt for Singapore citizenship, especially (as) she's abroad all the time."
working overseas, all her income are tax-free ... it's also easier for her
to travel to many countries visa-free, as well as easier to apply for
foreign PR and citizenship ... so you see, Gong Li is one smart cookie to
opt for Singapore citizenship, especially (as) she's abroad all the time."
AFP, withadditional reporting by Ong Dai Lin
Comments
The former probably means, "we are born in the same country, we shoulds stay in the same boat", while the latter, "you are born in my country, you should stay and help steer my boat".
That is the difference between a nation and a corporation.
Since she is already a well-known star. She could have migrated to any countries as a special talent. I think most likely she did this for her husband and parents-in-law.