In a series of online videos, an Australian man tours Queensland, showcasing the the state’s best food, scenery and sport.
It may sound like any other Australian tourism campaign, except that it’s entirely in Cantonese, and presented by one of Hong Kong’s best known foreign entertainers, Gregory Rivers.
Rivers was born in Gympie, but has for more than two decades called Hong Kong home. Once a medical student at the University of NSW, he fell in love with Cantonese pop music in the 70s, thanks to the international students at his dorm.
“I knocked on the door, didn't know who it was, and I said can I borrow the tape, and they gave me the tape" he said.
"I took it back to my room and it was Cantopop. I couldn't understand anything they were singing, but I loved the music.”
Following the lyrics helped Rivers to learn the language. In 1985 and 1986 he was given the opportunity to volunteer as a driver for visiting Hong Kong popstars Leslie Cheung and Alan Tam.
It changed his life. Rivers said: “working with these two pop stars and seeing everything that came along with their music, their fans and everything - I wanted to be like them.”
He quit university and flew to Hong Kong, working as an English teacher until local television station TVB advertised for a Cantonese-speaking foreign actor.
Rivers was accepted and spent 20 years playing various minor and supporting roles for the channel’s series.
Now known by his Cantonese name, Ho Kwok Wing, Rivers is considered a Hong Kong icon, frequently appearing in commercial campaigns and giving his opinion on issues relevant to the local community.
His agent Anna Leung says he’s been fully accepted as ‘one of Hong Kong’s own’.
“Why people love him is because he loves Hong Kong more than we do,” she said.
This year Rivers received the 'gold song' and 'most popular male singer' awards at a top Hong Kong industry gala.
“These awards are really special because they were given to me by the Hong Kong people… Sometimes you take a chance and things happen,” he said.
