Reviewed by Jay Scott Kanes
No one aspires to appear on bestsellers lists with Keep Clean, Be Healthy, A Guide To Personal, Home and Environmental Hygiene (no author credited, 2009, Hong Kong government, 32 pages). Despite a big print run, who would buy it?
Not for commercial sale, Keep Clean, Be Healthy emerges from the Hong Kong government's inept, even insulting, propaganda campaign to promote public behavior that prevents swine flu from gaining a hoof-hold. Unwanted, copies have arrived in postal boxes throughout the city.
The amount of useful information in this bilingual (Chinese/English) book requires no more than a page. Indeed, one sentence can summarize the contents: “Keeping yourself and the surroundings clean helps to prevent disease, so wash often and live a healthy lifestyle.” There’s nothing more substantive.
Illustrated with cartoon-like drawings, the book resembles a woeful primary-school text. It treats readers like idiots by harping on things that everyone, no matter how poorly educated, already realizes. For example:
-- “Do not eat food that looks, smells or tastes abnormal or could be contaminated.”
-- “Seek medical help if you feel unwell.”
-- “Always carry a handkerchief or some tissue paper. Cover your nose and mouth with it when sneezing or coughing.”
-- “Flush the toilet and wash hands after using the toilet.”
Patronizingly, a six-page section explains how to wash hands? The first step is to “wet hands under running water”. Next, “apply liquid soap and rub hands together to make a soapy lather”. Who knew?
If Hong Kong's leaders and government officials believe the public needs a guidebook about the basic hygiene that everyone learned as children, then who are the real idiots? Once more, the government exposes its arrogance and its lack of empathy, even contempt, for ordinary people.
At times, Keep Clean, Be Healthy sprinkles its inane advice with nonsense. Consider its flawed raison d’etre: “Personal hygiene is the first step to improving an individual's physical and emotional well-being.” Actually, the happiest people seldom obsess over germs, flu and constant washing. Those who incessantly wash hands, wipe surfaces before touching and wear masks may suffer from debilitating phobias. For this minority, Keep Clean, Be Healthy worsens irrational fears.
This book wastes paper and public dollars. To avoid frittering away time too, why not toss the book straight into the nearest rubbish bin? Thud! There goes my copy now.
As Keep Clean, Be Healthy reminds, people should wash their hands after handling rubbish. Having touched the book, I'm reaching for soap.
Approval rating: 0 per cent.
(May 14, 2009)
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