August 12, 2003, 4:33 AM EDT Hong Kong Chain
Drops Nazi-Themed Clothing By DIRK BEVERIDGE
Associated Press Writer HONG KONG -- A Hong Kong fashion
company has removed Nazi-themed clothing from its
14 stores after complaints from Israeli and German
diplomats in the territory. Israeli Consul General Eli Avidar had
denounced the company for what he called "immoral
actions" by launching a sales campaign that
"totally desecrates the deaths of millions of
people under the Nazi regime and legitimizes
evil." German Consul General Heinrich Beuth also
complained. After receiving complaints last week, the
company removed all Nazi-themed store decorations,
including flags and a propaganda video, but the
clothing remained until Monday when executives met
and decided to remove the merchandise. "We don't want to upset anybody," said
Deborah Cheng, marketing manager of the
retailer, which goes by the Internet-style name
http://www.izzue.com.
"We were a bit politically
insensitive. We don't
wish to make any race unhappy about it," she said
Tuesday. One of the T-shirts for
sale had a portrait of Nazi leader Adolf
Hitler standing on a laurel. Decorations in
the stores included red banners adorned with
swastikas and a sign that resembled a Third
Reich symbol -- an eagle above a
swastika. One outlet used a film projector to show Nazi
propaganda footage. Cheng had said earlier the company did not
believe many Hong Kong Chinese customers would be
offended, but acknowledged Tuesday that executives
had not counted on getting such a response from
foreigners. Disputes over Nazi symbols as marketing tools
have emerged before in Asia, where many people are
not as sensitive to the Holocaust as Europeans and
Americans are. In April, soft drink giant Coca-Cola pulled a
promotional robot figurine adorned with what
appeared to be Nazi swastikas following criticism
from a Jewish leader in Hong Kong. Taiwan's ruling party used an image of Hitler in
television ads two years ago, but withdrew it after
fierce criticism from Jewish groups. Copyright ©
2003, The Associated Press 
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