The cosmetics maker reacted to criticism in Chinese state media for its association with Ms. Ho—a prominent figure in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy “Occupy Central” protests in 2014—by cancelling a planned miniconcert. On June 8, Lancôme shut its shops in Hong Kong as people gathered to protest its move to pull the show.
Lancôme said in a Facebook statement after their decision that the cancellation was for “possible safety reasons.”
At Sunday’s show, however, there were no protests and no police in the area.
At the event, Ms. Ho said people in mainland China and Hong Kong “have to fight for the basic human rights, which are freedom of speech and freedom of thought.”
“The pressure is growing and the fear is growing,” she said. “We need to face the problem directly because people are choosing to stay silent.”
A man answering the phone at L’Oréal International’s headquarters in France said to call back Monday. An email was sent seeking comment. L’Oreal is the parent company of Lancôme.
A petition set up by Béatrice Desgranges, a retired philosophy teacher in France, on the website change.org calling for a boycott of Lancôme products has gathered more than 85,000 signatures.
The normally serene POHO area of Hong Kong was packed on Sunday with men, women and children who had come to sing along with Ms. Ho. The afternoon temperature hit about 92 degrees Fahrenheit, but other than a few arguments as people tried to come and go, the atmosphere was jolly.
“I am so touched by all the people who came out in the very hot weather,” Ms. Ho said, before stepping up to an improvised stage and performing some of her popular hits.
Source: Wall Street Journal