After posting my thoughts about Jackie's controversial pronouncements at Bo'ao a couple of weeks ago, I received an e-mail from Nick Mackie, the journalist who actually asked the question that kicked off the whole episode. As Nick points out, the question posed was in fact about show biz, but Jackie got into a bit of a stream of consciousness thing while replying. Nick writes (reprinted here with his permission):

My question asked [Jackie Chan] to consider what a fellow panelist had said earlier. Andre Morgan - US film producer (titles include Enter the Dragon, Cannonball Run) - had spoken about a need for the Chinese to (my words) lighten up, not take everything so seriously, not be so touchy on stories that don't portray China at her best. Andre had been talking about the difficulties that some film producers face when they try to put a deal together to shoot in China. I understood that Andre was also having a poke at what some might call an over restrictive regulatory environment.
 
So I asked [Jackie] - as Vice Chair of the China Film Association - if he agreed with Mr Morgan. If yes, what would he do about it; if no, why not?
 
Andre Morgan took the micro to say that I had got it wrong - that he was referring to the Chinese people being (my words) too sensitive, that he was not referring to Chinese regulations that govern the film industry.
 
Then Jackie Chan took over and....well...you know the rest.
 
So, he  was responding to a question on film industry regulations - though Mr Morgan then spoke about the Chinese people. But Mr Chan, who waxed lyrically on  US traffic cops, the Singapore chewing gum ban, even exploding Chinese TV sets....well, he broadened the debate, didn't he!
 
On leaving - and being mobbed by reporters - he had the opportunity to put the record straight. But, with the pack on him, he declined.
 
For my twopence worth, I think that JC's underlying message is clear and that he believes this: That without firm control by a firm leadership, then Mainland China would be chaotic. But I bet that he wishes he could turn the clock back.

 Nick's blog post on the episode is on Newsweek's China blog, here.