Jackie Chan: Says, "Chinese people need to be controlled"

Jackie Chan: Says, "Chinese people need to be controlled"

Politicians in Hong Kong and Taiwan have criticized action star Jackie Chan's controversial comments to a business forum in southern China.

Hong Kong born actor Jackie Chan has recently claimed that Chinese people are so chaotic they need to be firmly controlled by the government.

The 55 year old Chan told to a business forum in the southern Chinese province of Hainan on Saturday that a free society may not be beneficial for China's authoritarian mainland.

Jackie Chan said, "I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not. I'm gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled. If we're not being controlled, we'll just do what we want".

The actor's comments drew applause from a predominantly Chinese audience of business leaders, but did not sit well with politicians in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator Leung Kwok-hung has expressed his strong reaction against Chan's comments. He said, "He's insulted the Chinese people. Chinese people aren't pets. Chinese society needs a democratic system to protect human rights and rule of law".

Albert Ho, a lawmaker, called the comments "racist". He said, "People around the world are running their own countries. Why can't Chinese do the same?"

However, Jackie Chan has lost some of his goodwill among the Chinese people after his comments. He is vice chairman of the China Film Association, a key industry group.