User:Thelmadatter/Fong Kong

Fong Kong is a slang phrase and derogatory manner to refer to people and objects used in South Africa,specially in Botswana as it is linked to Chinese merchants. They sell their products in African local markets such as clothes, shoes, jewelry, sunglasses, banknotes, pharmaceuticals and DVD’s which are sold very cheap. This term was heard for the first time in Zimbabwe as "zhing zhong" Another term used by Asian people is difongkong.

Definition
The lexicographical entry for Fong Kong is: a product with a fake designer label, especially sports shoes.

Fong kong term comes from items sold in China shops, which are also related to an object or subject that is fake or inauthentic.Fong kong goods are also related to replicas from original brands.

Controversy
Africans criticizes Made in China goods because of the believe they have poor quality and have brought negative effects on the local marketplace. Made in China goods manufacture and distribution is questioned because these goods are sold in local markets, which have ends in affecting local merchants and, on the other hand, they are helping middle-class people to improve their life conditions. Fong Kong goods have low prices in Botswana because they tend to sell big quantities at low prices, while Chinese goods made in China are produced with high quality standards. Chinese merchants does not sell electronics because profit is not adequate, instead they focus on low-quality goods.

Local media and authorities have denigrated these products, even the government which despite this situation, have noticed Fong Kong goods are an influence in Botswana's society. As a matter of fact, authorities in South Africa are focused on sales of counterfeits in Chinese shops rather than in the streets, as a way of fighting illicit market.

China's local protectionism sees counterfeit manufacturing as a threat. Therefore, campaigns against counterfeit manufacturing have pushed Chinese merchants to initiate their businesses on Fong Kong goods in Botswana where they found mutual support between some local traders in Botswana and Chinese merchants have helped the supply chain to grow. China’s credibility on businesses is associated to cheap or fake copies of their goods but still, sales are going up and African governments are facing the responsibility to regulate, privatize and democratize local markets before real investment from Chinese companies begin. As a fact, relations between China and Africa governments are very cordial.

Botswana
1990’s:the arrival of Chinese merchants in Botswana. Immigration policy had caused Chinese individuals to move to Africa. It didn't take long for Chinese merchants to understood that Botswana people would never have paid a pair of shoes in its original price, even tough, shoes were leftovers from factories in the city.

"Botswana is one of the most dynamic economies in Africa" even though the manufacturing sector has not been able to rise since 1996. China's efforts to provide help in terms of national infrastructure to Botswana, have enriched bilateral relationships. Botswana incorporated a political decision-making process that can be credited to China's investments on the country's economy.

Local customers believe Chinese products sold either in shops and streets are authentic, but every product is fake, even high class South African shops are buying from wholesale Chinese goods. Natives do not care if they are wearing the brand or the Fong Kong product as they only aspire to look as people from higher social classes, they even know Chinese products have no guarantee on quality. An apparently egalitarian society has raised in Botswana, as it has been influenced socially and economically by western media.

Chinese shopkeepers are found worldwide, with same business model, but Botswana has managed to become the main city to watch this phenomenon and this has attracted tourists to visit Botswana.

Similar and related terms
-Lasher tools once used the term to sell their products.

-The Hunger Boyz Senkaya made a song called Fong Kong “Chinese came to South Africa to rip us off, selling their fakes to us”

-Market Theatre Laboratory “Fong Kong the play dealt with xenophobia, addressing” in 2002.

-Councillor for Public Safety in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, Michael Sun invites people to think the consequences when using this term.