Beijing Notebook

Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley

Quite so. In my view there could be nothing more disrespectful than being brow-beaten into "buttoning it" unnecessarily and/or inappropriately. However, the practice of openness, transparency and individual freedom needs to be tempered by a certain measure of discretion, according to whatever the situation is, in my opinion. This would be in the interests of reducing burdens all round. Thus said; there's nothing wrong with being naughty in the right sort of context.

Roy

You were great; a good performance Boris,except; for that grinning oaf on your right and some others in the near vicinity? They looked half stoked, silly as weasels, and spoilt the act.

William

Well said Boris! You're a star.

Ivan

Boris, if you're still around in 2012, I'd be surprised if the Olympics goes without a hitch.

Did the people of London vote you for your witty humour or your ability to govern?

Your un-statesmanlike behaviour in Beijing was an utter embarrassment.

Eton scholar? *disbelief*

lee Yu lee

Hey,Mayor Johnson,I'm from Shanghai China.my family wacthed TV.We all thought it doesn't matter,only we thought was that you're very lovely.Actually we're fans of u since then :)

ge yu

Mayor Johnson,renshi ni hen gaoxing

Charlie

Hey, Boris, you certainly did not behave like a statesman that evening. And your criticism about the "the hideous practice of re-education through labour" is at least 30 years too late. Finally, you owe a great deal to the Sinophobic propoganda of some Western media for your complacent sleep in the back of your British Airways plane. The president of British Airways should take you to dinner for this ad you've made for them.

Joe Camel

Whatever your excuses, you still made yourself look like a goof. Rogge and the mayor of Peking had clearly been paying attention at the rehearsals and you hadn't (or had missed them altogether). Didn't you have some kind of sidekick (or PA, or minder) to tell you, "First you shake hands with X and then with Y", and how to hold the flag properly and all the rest of it?

jude

Hi Mr. Johnson,

Don't worry, as a Chinese, I saw a very care-free friendly man in the screen . I didn't realize that you have unbuttoned your jacket until reading the comment from your people.

I respect your own choice & I think you absolutely have right to express yourself freely. Because it reflects your real personality. However, how about your own people, you are representing them, do they think as the same way???

At last, I agree your point very much that, to hold a good opening & closing ceremony don't mean to use tons of money. Yes, it is all about our creativity & passion.

Since I believe human are keeping progress, I trust that London Olympia can be even more successful than the Beijing one.

Neman

Mayor Johnson, If unbuttoning, in any mysterious way, links to the "policy of openness, transparency and individual freedom"; How about unzipping the trousers? Shouldn't it represent more "openness", more "transparency" and more "individual freedom"?

Carmen

i agree with the fourth floor"Ivan"--something in China i can't explain and u havn't understand, and i dislike ur tones.I hope i would watch a better show in 2012.

A chinese

Ah,you are so polit and so smart,didn't you??No one but you is right?

A chinese

Ah,you are so polit and so smart,didn't you??No one but you is right!

Chinese

At that time,I just feel that you are very happy!

A Chinese in UK

As a Chinese been living in UK for 10 years, one thing I learnt from this country is that media and people here just like critising anything they see. So why are you so worried about 'unbuttoning' at all?!

Secondly, just for your information, in fact, most Chinese audience liked your performance on that night, they thought you were friendly and cared nothing about your 'unbuttoning'.

So the finaly word is that, next time, before you expressing your true emotinal feelings, think more and read more.

Boris

Hey, Boris,i are man

Nick

Hi mayor.
I think the guy pointed at
you mightn't speak english so he used some Body Language,that didn't stand for "irreverence".

A Chinese

I live in a southeast city in china. We are all like you so much.

Eric Wei Kang

Hi dear Boris,
I'm from Beijing China, I just want to you know most of Chinese people hope the London 2012 will be very successful because they could get happiness from the Olympics, they want to that good feeling from Olympics to continue. When you stand on the stage no one care the 'unbuttoning' as people's focus was on the Olympics flag, I believe you also could focus on the right things instead of others.
Best regards.

Jake

Mr. Johnson, you can actually go to the olympic event naked as the greek did many years ago, that way, more freedom spirit is shown to the poor chinese. hahaha

Anon

Welcome home, Mr. Johnson - your thinking-writing refreshes embattled freedom fighters!

Good blog you've elicited, too. All insight into the old inscrutability!

Back aft on BA...I always had a lovely kip if there were 3 seats free.

PS Glad I don't live in London any more. I'd have to leave anyway, once they started propagating the Mega Meccano....too heartbreaking!

Real Water

What a shame, I guess you keep put your hands in your pockets simply because they hinted it is not a decent behaviour. Couldn't you fabricate a better excuss?

Nina

Totally cant understand why so many chinese here gave him such a brunch of nice words....well, they only respected their own points. For me, a girl from Beijing, I m gonna say, next tim, plz take ur untidy and unsmart behaviors to other place, not in Beijing..Plz....Shame on u...>.<

but anyway, hope London will hold a successful Olympic Game. Good luck~Cheers

David

My God. Mayor Johnson,you are from Mars?

yangshu

I'm a Chinese,I felt nothing but amusing that day.However reading your article educates me,that even a mayor can be shallow,really.

Familar Clown (Crown in China)

That's right Boris, be yourself always! After all, flag waving is easier with the jacket unbuttoned, and you weren't as slim as the others on the podium either. Regarding hands in pockets, don't be tempted. Take a tip fom Princes Phillip and Charles, put your hands behind your back. That's quite acceptable. And who wouldn't be a tiny bit nervous with all those billions watching?

As for the girl fom Beijing, well, she's just one of a 'brunch'. I'm sure you were a hit with all the others.

Noel

I really feel sorry that you were only given a few seconds to prepare this.... But maybe this is not important to you. That's all right.

Lin

Dear Boris,

Compared to most politicians, you appear relaxed and simple-minded, and I believe that's what made people like you, and it even made you appear charming to those spectators in the Birds Nest stadium on the closing night, without knowing your "intention" of being open and democratic. Why not just stick to the honesty policy and admit that you are not a man for ceremonies, the "openness" and "transparency" are such a silly excuse and clumsy symbolism imposed on an unbuttoned jacket! Even the red socialists in China these days are more careful in picking their slogans. By the way, you'd have appeared more likeable and saved a load of discussions if you'd buttoned up that jacket.

Suetfei

Hey,Respectful Boris,We Chinese didn't find your performance have so big problem as u say.I didn't notice your button.

Today before I sleep in GuangZhou, I read this,then puzzle.I dont't think the China Great Wall can be seen from the Moon cause someone have claimed it's a mistake or only white lies,but why you mention it here?Why you care the scale of a China landscape so much?

You guy Boris,seems funny,who knows you are feeling uneasy.

However,London friends is good.
LD 8 minutes is OK and fun.
foreigners as me are not so choosy.

Melinda

Dear Johnson,
Don't worry about this.
You're funny and lovely.
we Chinese say "Jia You,London 2012","Do Your Best,London 2012".
We really still love London.
Best wishes to London.

vijay

Good on you, boris.
I am in india and all i can say is, just be your own lovable self and dont let anybody suggest otherwise.

aaaaliang

Don't try to cover something, what ever you are sooooo LOVELY...or a goof?
BUT YOU STILL A POLITICIAN! Pls thinking about how could you win and stand there that night!

Maria

Mr. Boris, i studied in the UK for one year and now is working for a UK company in Beijing, China. What you did at the closing ceremony and what you said in other media has nothing to do with my impression on London and the UK. Some one probably can be a good example of "openess" and "transparency" instead of a representative from a long history city and a polite and educated british gentlement. Thanks for making so many Chinese people understand LONDON and UK SO MUCH! You can only get people's respect until you treat them respectively.

WW

It's absolutely craps. Can't believe a Mayor of London would spend so much time making a fuss over nothing!

Robert

Boris, perhaps you should have gone into the stadium naked so that you could have demonstrated better the practice of openness, transparency and individual freedom to those poor Chinese who know nothing about human rights and dignity. Why did you wear suits? I was disappointed at you.