REACHING PAST CENSORS OF ASIA

Hong Kong : Comedians have to find creative ways to riff on politically incorrect topics.

Every comedian takes the stage wanting to make people laugh. But it is less satisfying when the audience has been ordered to do so before the first joke has been told.

Storm Xu, a Chinese comedian, found that out during a surreal experience of performing for the country's military.

IN ASIA, where a youthful stand-up comedy scene is still developing, comedians in mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia are finding creative ways-

To tell jokes about sex and politics, while coming up against cultures of  censorship and taboos.

Among them is Mr. Xu, 30, who lives in Shanghai and ekes out a full-time living from stand-up comedy. Mr. Xu said Shanghai's small comedy scene involves about 21 regulars who could perform at least 10 minutes of material, and-

Most are Western expatriate men, not Chinese like him.

A former automotive engineer for General Motors, Mr. Xu was able to quit his day job because of  corporate comedy gigs, many of which come through Chinese government agencies.

The Chinese government requires him to submit scripts in advance of his commercial performances    -that gets him a permit to tell jokes.

He also has to provide video of someone reading the comedy's line aloud. Government censors have told him to remove jokes not for political content, but for being too rude.

''They'll decline you  if it's too obscene or dirty; you can't swear on stage,'' he said.