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Hong Kong Arrival / "Jet" Magazine Interview

Date confirmed in “South China Morning Post” (“Jackson jetted into Hong Kong yesterday [October 19, 1987]”)

Singing and dancing 1 hour and 45 minutes each night onstage backed up by 16 persons—including two guitarists, a bass player, a drummer and three keyboard players—Jackson attracted nearly 500,000 wildly screaming and yelling fans. And “the Michael mania” that especially engulfed Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama resulted in the sale of 600,000 copies of Bad, Jackson’s newest album, which the singer’s manager, Frank Dileo, said has already sold 9 million worldwide. The phenomenal sales represent seven weeks.

As he headed for Hong Kong to rest and relax before resuming his world tour with the next stop in Australia, Jackson took time out to savor his conquest of Japan.

“I loved the show a lot and thought the fans were great. I love them a lot,” Jackson said. “We expected them (Japanese fans) to be subdued because of their reputation. I was quite overwhelmed. I feel a great warmth for the Japanese people and I was just happy that I could be there", Jackson enthused.

The sensitive singer/songwriter tried to express that feeling by learning to speak a little Japanese. After opening a show with his upbeat hit, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”, Jackson would say in Japanese, “Good evening! I Love you!”

Although he found time to shop for books, antique clocks, records and jewelry, he also visited Tokyo Disneyland to view his movie, Captain EO. The mayor of Osaka presented him a key to the city and fans at each of his concert dates showered him with hundreds of gifts. They included music boxes, cameras, tape recorders, Japanese clothes and beautiful Japanese screens.

“South China Morning Post” (October 20, 2017) (archived) (Quotes and summary of original October 20, 1987 article)

“Michael Jackson in Hongkong”, ran the headline in the South China Morning Post on October 20, 1987, the American singer having arrived on a private visit.

“Reclusive pop star Michael Jackson jetted into Hongkong yesterday – and, in an attempt to shake off pursuing photographers, immediately joined the lunchtime scramble for a taxi outside Kai Tak airport.”

When a photographer pushed his way into the front seat of Jackson’s taxi, the star’s lone minder, formally attired in the unlikely get-up of tails and a bow-tie, told the aggressive press pack, “If you keep coming on like this, Michael will not come back to Hongkong again.”

The game was up the following day. “Michael Jackson ‘twin’ dupes press at airport,” read the Post’s headline. “The Truth is out. Michael Jackson did fly into Hongkong from Tokyo on Monday afternoon – but it wasn’t Michael Jackson who led reporters on a wild goose chase at Kai Tak airport. And his so-called ‘minder’ was actually a Hongkong-based American entertainer who uses the stage name Dr Penguin.

Even more embarrassing [for the Post, presumably], the Jackson ‘lookalike’ who had the press in hot pursuit happens to be a female. She’s Canadian singer Peggy Johnson.”

At the time of the deception, Dr Penguin had been wearing what the Post now referred to as the “standard garb” for a man in his line of business: “his magician’s top hat and tails, and a funny button reading ‘just visiting this planet,’” but no one had twigged.

Dr Penguin said instructions for the ruse had come from Tokyo “via a third part”.

On October 24, under the headline “Thriller ride for the real Jackson”, the Post reported that the singer had visited Ocean Park, and, “rode the dipper three times”.

“Michael just loved the roller coaster. He said it was better than the Colossus at Magic Mountain,” said Dr Penguin, who accompanied Jackson to the theme park. Penguin said the outing was, “the most fun I’ve ever had; Michael is like a Pied Piper”.

Jackson left Hong Kong on November 11. There was no sign of the “wily Dr Penguin” at Kai Tak airport on that occasion.

“South China Morning Post” (Week of October 20, 1987 article)

The truth is out. Michael Jackson did fly into Hong Kong from Tokyo on Monday afternoon — but it wasn’t Michael Jackson who led reporters on a wild goose chase at Kai Tak airport.

And his so-called "minder" was actually a Hong Kong-based American entertainer who uses the stage name Dr. Penguin.

Even more embarrassing, the Jackson “lookalike” who had the press in hot pursuit, happens to be female. She's Canadian singer Peggy Johnson, who is working with a newly-formed band called Gadzo.

Yesterday, an unrepentant Dr. Penguin spilled the beans about the ruse which left egg on many faces and no doubt a wide grin on Jackson's.

Johnson--the latter dressed in black, with a wide-brimmed hat for extra camouflage--acted their parts to perfection, said Dr. Penguin, who took it upon himself to tell photographers, "Michael will never come back to Hong Kong again" if they didn't back down.

Recalled Dr Penguin: "The moment we saw the press, I yelled: 'Quick, Michael, run!', and we made a mad dash for a taxi.

“They came tearing after us and we got into the cab just in the nick of time.

“Those reporters were really aggressive. At one point I, had to hold my hat over one of their cameras, and when we were in the taxi, they hanged on the windows and yelled at the driver to open the doors. Fortunately, [article cut off]