Chan's remarks 'out of context'

Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan's comments about whether freedom was a good thing for China were taken out of context, his spokesman has said.

He was criticised after suggesting to a business forum in southern China that Chinese people "need to be controlled".

But his spokesman said Chan was talking about freedom in the entertainment industry, not Chinese society at large.

People with "ulterior motives" had misinterpreted what he was saying on purpose, Solon So told AP news agency.

Chan said on Saturday: "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."

He also said freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong and Taiwan made those societies "chaotic".

"If we [the Chinese] are not controlled, we'll just do what we want."

His spokesman responded as the backlash against Chan grew.

The tourism board for Hong Kong said it had received complaints that his comments "hurt the image of Hong Kong and aren't reflective of Hong Kong people".

Earlier, pro-democracy legislator Leung Kwok-hung told AP that Chan had "insulted the Chinese people".