A Hong Kong government department has contacted police over a satirical online post – mimicking an official press release – that congratulated a local influencer on travelling to Japan to become an adult actress.

Erena So
Erena So. Photo: Erena So, via YouTube.

The original post on the LIHKG forum was designed to read like an official press release and congratulated Erena So on her career move. It appeared to be a doctored version of a statement by culture chief Kevin Yeung congratulating actress Michelle Yeoh on her recent Oscar win.

Kevin Yeung
Kevin Yeung. File photo: GovHK.

“The spokesman sternly clarified that the fake press release was not issued via the Government News and Media Information System and the case has been reported to the police,” said a press release on Thursday from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau.

The forum post was later deleted.

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Tom is the editor-in-chief and founder of Hong Kong Free Press. He has a BA in Communications and New Media from Leeds University and an MA in Journalism from the University of Hong Kong. He has contributed to the BBC, Euronews, Al-Jazeera and others.