Chinese authorities seize thousands of rolls of toilet paper printed with Hong Kong leader's face
Democrats left scrambling to find replacement products to sell at Lunar New Year fair booths
Mainland authorities yesterday confiscated some 7,600 rolls of toilet paper featuring the face of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, which the Democratic Party had planned to sell at this year's Lunar New Year fair.
They also seized 20,000 packets of tissues bearing more images of Hong Kong's top official.
Democrats last year grossed about HK$100,000 by selling 4,000 rolls of toilet paper decorated with the chief executive's face, which were manufactured by the same company.
But Kelvin Lai King-wai, the head of the Democrats' creative media division, expressed surprise that the authorities were able to track down their latest order. He said Democrats had placed it under the name of someone who was not a member of the party, and had not revealed their identity in the process.
"The stocks had been packed and were to be shipped to Hong Kong today, but the mainland officers suddenly inspected the factory and took away all the boxes," Lai said yesterday, adding that they also sealed the factory.
Last year's fair was the first time the Democrats had sold the novelty loo paper. It proved a hit but yielded little profit. This year, it was hoped the toilet rolls would be a good money-earner.