By Janet Chan

Once upon a time, there was a group of miners.

Dirt and dust blackened their faces. Some of them entertained their colleagues, by wiping their hands over their eyes and mouths, thus turning it white.

As a result, they appeared as if they had put some make-up around their eyes and mouths. According to Mr. Bowen Chen, a 19-year-old clown working at Ocean Park of Hong Kong, it was how the concept of clowns originated.

Mr. Chen has been a clown for three years. His 30-year-old colleague, Mr. Anka Wong, joined the Clown College six years ago.

The Clown College is a three-week training course organised by Ocean Park of Hong Kong every summer.

According to Miss Megan Fu, the show producer of the park, it is the only professional clown training available in Hong Kong.

Professional clowns from foreign countries were invited to be the tutors of the course.

In the course, a wide range of techniques like make-up, magic, gag shows and juggling would be taught.

Games are introduced to boost the confidence and mutual trust of the trainees.

To become a successful clown, Mr. Chen said that one should be optimistic, humorous and flexible.

Talents in acting, dancing and juggling are needed. Besides, one should love children. It actually explains why Mr. Wong has become a clown.

"I love children. Being a clown can always entertain children, that's why I chose this job," he said.

Mr. Chen shared his view. He said, " bringing happiness to children is actually one of clowns' missions.

"We make animal-balloons, take photographs, act, dance, juggle and trick them in order to make them happy."

Apart from these tasks, each clown has different duties, for instance, some act as a juggler or a sheriff, depending on the nature of clowns.

Clowns are further divided into three status. One can distinguish their status by their appearances.

Those with the lowest status are more human-like. Their make-up may include the teeth and they may wear glasses.

Those with the middle status are augustes, which are usually seen on the streets.

Those with the highest status are clowns with white faces. They are cleverer and doing better make-up.

The tutors would decide whether the make-up done by the trainees could match their character or not.

Together with the management board, they would discuss which particular character would fit the clowns.

Once the character and the make-up have been decided, they seldom change since the make-up represents the clowns themselves. It would be their life-long make-up.

Said Mr. Wong: "Sometimes, there are visitors who come for a particular clown. If the clowns always change their make-up, people cannot find them.

"Moreover, the make-up is actually a `trademark' of the clown. In foreign countries, one can even register his make-up so that others cannot copy. However, it is not practised in Hong Kong."

Talking about their performance and tricks, Mr. Wong said that it depends on the situation, the atmosphere and the response of the audience.

"We sometimes make animal-balloons for children and pretend that we have tied them. When the children take the balloon, it would fly away.

"The reaction of the children being tricked often makes people laugh."

Gag shows like "Washing Women" would be performed too.

"It is about two washing women competing for a place to wash clothes. They trick each other and make each other wet.

"Eventually, both of them get all wet and start to spill water on the audience. It tricks the audience in this way," said Mr. Wong.

However, not all passers-by could be tricked.

Said Mr. Chen: "It depends on our experience in choosing people to play tricks on. Some people are very serious and cannot be tricked.

"Toddlers are not suitable as well. If we spill water on them, they may cry."

Fortunately, they have not angered anyone by tricking them so far. However, Mr. Chen said that sometimes children would be out of control.

When a group of children is playing happily, a child might hit his hip. Others may follow.

"However, I would not get angry because they are just playing," said Mr. Chen.

Said Mr. Wong: "When people hit us, it actually reassures us of our success in bringing happiness."

Regarding the taboos of clowns, Mr. Wong said clowns should not be too human-like once they are dressed-up and should avoid doing things that suggest to the audience that they are human beings such as smoking, chewing gum and talking on the phone.

Hence it will be rather unprofessional if a clown drops his wig during the performance.

"If a clown's costumes include a wig, people may associate it with the clown's image.

"When he drops his wig, it would immediately suggest to the audience that the clown has changed into a human being suddenly," said Mr. Wong.

Since clowns' jobs are to make people happy, they themselves should appear to be happy and funny first. In times of troubles and unhappiness, Mr. Chen said he would still try his best to perform. The audience's response often cheers him up.

Mr. Wong said that the last resort would be acting as a "statue" that day.

"As a statue, one doesn't have to show any facial expressions or do anything.

"People would stand around and wonder whether you are a real statue or not.

"Their suspicion and argument actually cheer me up."

However, Mr. Wong said that clowns should seldom feel upset.

"If one is just pretending, one cannot perform well," said Mr. Wong.

Talking about their satisfaction as a clown, Mr. Chen said that it is generated from audience's response.

Besides, when people recognise them and visit them purposely, they would be very happy.

Asked about their future career, both Mr. Chen and Mr. Wong wanted to continue to be clowns.

Said Mr. Wong: "When I graduated, I wanted to be the best and number one clown in Hong Kong.

"I have a higher goal now, not only to be the first clown in Hong Kong to break the age limit of clowns but also to be involved in the management and production of clown shows and activities.