Anger at film's 'whitewash' of a Chinese war hero in Oz

SYDNEY - A film about a Chinese-Australian war hero in which the lead role is played by a white actor has provoked anger in Australia at the "whitewashing" of the nation's history.

Billy Sing, whose father was Chinese and mother British, was a decorated soldier from the disastrous Gallipoli campaign of World War I during which he earned the name "The Assassin" for his success as a sniper.

But in the yet-to-be released television film "The Legend of Billy Sing", his character is played by a young Caucasian actor.