[2014.09.01] VERONICA SHIU WINS MISS HONG KONG TRIPLE CROWN

A steady performance wins Veronica Shiu the crown

Katherine Ho surprises many by landing in the final 3

Erin Wong comes in second despite her questionable qualifications

Sofiee Ng is a favorite but does not land in the final 3

Star judges Nat Chan, Joey Yung, Carol Cheng, Eric Tsang

Sammi Cheung

Linna Huynh is the latest to arrive for the pageant and has light make up and a confident smile

Wong Cho Nam

Miss Photogenic judge Natalie Tong does not mind appearing with old flame Amigo Choi

CK Leung kisses up and suffers jabs from Eric Tsang

Eric Tsang
courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

24 year old Veronica Shiu (center) overwhelmingly wins Miss Hong Kong.  Second runner up is Katherine Ho (left) and first runner up is Erin Wong

Miss Hong Kong Veronica Shiu

Second runner up Erin Wong

Second runner up Katherine Ho 

Favorite contestant 3 Linna Huynh does not even land in the top three

Audience voting shows Veronica Shiu leaving everyone else in the dust

Some online calls the use of fur cruel

Joey Yung is TVB's star judge.  She jokes that she would ask if she or the contestants are prettier.  Only those answer her would pass.

Miss Photogenic judges Nancy Wu

and Jacquelin Chong
courtesy of mingpao.com

The 2014 Miss Hong Kong Pageant last night ended in controversy. (15) Veronica Shiu Pui Sze won the title as well as Miss Photogenic and Miss Congeniality to become the triple crown winner. First runner up (9) Erin Wong Cheuk Kei and second runner up (7) Katherine Ho Yim Guen were also surprises. Instead the pre race favorites (3) Linna Huyhn (Wong Bik Lin) and (11) Sofiee Ng Hoi Yan were unable to break into the final three, much to the dismay of star judges Carol Cheng Yui Ling, Joey Yung Cho Yi, Eric Tsang Chi Wai and others. Tsang Chi Wai when announcing the result sarcastically said, "Let (7) win! Since it's all surprising it may as well be surprising to the end!" Online criticism was filled of race fixing accusations. As viewers did not get the vote until the judges chose the final 3, just like the Hong Kong Chief Executive nominees had to be first screened. Maybe due to the limited choices, Shiu Pui Sze left the two runner ups in the dust with 156191 votes.

Last year TVB successfully organized the half open Miss Hong Kong voting with judges and viewer votes each counting for a half. This year the pageant tried something now. 5 pageant jury members Charmaine Sheh Si Man, Bosco Wong Chung Chak, Li Yundi, Winnie Ng Wing Mui and Kennedy Wong Ying Ho BBS, JP chose the final 3, then viewers voted. Shiu Pui Sze won the hearts of star judges Cheng Yui Ling, Yung Cho Yi and Nat Chan Pak Cheung and was one of the favorites along with Wong Bik Lin and Ng Hoi Yan. Yet when the final 3 were announced, only Shiu Pui Sze was in it. The other two were Ho Yim Guen and Wong Cheuk Kei. Jeers arose on the message boards and accusations of race fixing and small circle voting arose. "Even one vote per person can determine the result, how can this be called an open election?" When the event arranged for Chi Wai and Cheng Yui Ling to discuss who will win, Cheng Yui Ling helplessly said, "I don't dare to say, anything can happen." Chi Wai threw out more jabs, "I choose number 7 to win, since it's surprising it may as well be surprising to the end. Also two second runner ups, no first runner up." He also jokingly asked if the judges were nearsighted. Speaking of Linna Huyhn not moving on, Yung Cho Yi directly said, "I just fainted!"

When TVB announced the results, the open viewer voting had 255,955 votes, winner Shiu Pui Sze received more than half the votes with 156,191 and overwhelmingly left first runner up Wong Cheuk Kei's 28,894 votes and second runner up Ho Yim Guen's 24,903 votes behind. However their total vote count was 209,988 votes, meaning that 45,967 votes chose other contestants before. When the final 3 appeared, the voters no longer participated in the voting. When the live audience voted if they liked the top 3, Wong Cheuk Ling had 266 viewers who did not like her ad only 139 like votes. The event organizer Yu Wing Shan responded to the online criticism of the voting standard "not providing any choice" with the standard was the same two years ago and it was the most official. Because the jury has met with the contestants numerous times and had an understanding of them, this was the best method. She also said that the final 10 minutes of viewer voting was enthusiastic and she was very pleased with the result.

Tsang Chi Wai admitted that the result was not what he expected. Because the final 3 voting did not have too many choices, viewers felt that they were not the top 3 that they would have voted for. Ah Lek said that the "hot head cold legs" result was not considered a surprise. What did he feel second runner up Katherine Ho won with? He said, "I couldn't see it, maybe her performance tonight was good." He also said that if having more choices with voting for the final 3 out of the top 5 might have been better. Jury member Wong Chung Chak said that the final 3 were his picks. The final 3's result was determined from intense average calculations. Sheh Si man said that the winner Shiu Pui Sze was her pick, unfortunate number 11 was not able to get into the final 3.

Winner Shiu Pui Sze broke the Miss Photogenic curse to win the crown. She said that she had affinity, was even and everything came from her heart. She conquered the obstacle of her birth mark, even with her flaws she never gave up.

The first runner up Wong Cheuk Kei was revealed to have been born in the Mainland and participated in Miss Chinese International pageant. She said that she did not mind being exposed, beauty pageants were challenges to herself. Second runner up Ho Yim Guen disagreed that she was a surprise, saying that she expected to be in the final 3. She also denied that her beauty was artificial.

During the performance segment, 10 contestants wore white with fur and appeared on sleighs to show their elegant side. Yet in the eyes of environmental protection and animal lovers, the contestants' fur look might have been bloody. Some online saw this segment posted messages to chastise the fur arrangement as cruel. The event organizer Yu Wing Shan again stated that this was fashion. The event would not interfere with the designer's designs. She also aid that now a lot of the fur came from farms and not wild animals. As for the criticism of fur use cruelty, she admitted that the event was not fully considerate and would be more cautious next time.

Joey Yung Cho is the star judge. She states that she would make things difficult for the contestants and test their wit. Joey joked, " I would ask the contestants if I am pretty or they are pretty? Only those who compliment me get to pass!" Her favorite contestants were (3) Linna Huyhn (Wong Bik Lin) and (15) Veronica Shiu Pui Sze. (3) was particularly cute, as she believed that guys would prefer a girl who was a little "exotic". Joey was not afraid that Nat Chan Pak Cheung would poke fun at her romance. Because during rehearsal Ah Lek already started with her, she was mentally prepared.