After claiming Hong Kong people were not offended, Izzue removes the offending items following complaints
Fashion chain Izzue bowed to public pressure yesterday and started to remove its line of Nazi-themed clothing from its stores.
The company's actions came a day after its marketing manager had said Hong Kong people did not think the issue was a big deal.
But dozens of people complained and the Israeli and German consulates condemned the use of Nazi insignia to sell clothes.
Izzue was selling T-shirts and other clothing with the insignia and had decorated stores with banners bearing swastikas and displayed Nazi flags from ceilings.
'We really didn't expect such an outcry from the public,' said Gloria Yu, a spokeswoman for parent company I.T. Ltd. She said the firm hoped the decision to remove the clothing would put an end to the row. The company started removing the Nazi clothing from its 14 stores at noon yesterday.
'We will return the merchandise to the warehouse. We will reconsider how to deal with the clothes. We are not promoting Nazism in any sense. We have absolutely no political standpoint.'