Top treatment for Deng's daughter
CUTTING the hair of one of senior Chinese leader Mr Deng Xiaoping's daughters turned out to be a less than routine operation for a foreign-run salon in Shanghai.
After failing to show up for a 7 pm appointment at the Rodger Craig hair salon, Ms Deng Lin, Mr Deng's eldest daughter, had her secretary phone the next day to say she still wanted a cut.
''But she asked that the salon be cleared of other people,'' a well-placed source said.
Arriving at 9 pm, after the shop's normal working hours, Ms Deng's conditions were met: the place was clear of other customers.
Ms Deng, an artist of some repute, was accompanied by two bodyguards. One stood outside the door, while the other kept a close watch on the Australian male stylist, following his every snip.
She seemed to be pleased with the result, and asked the stylist if he would be available to cut the hair of ''someone who couldn't be seen in public'', apparently a reference to her father, according to the source.
But the stylist, apparently overwhelmed by his first encounter with communist aristocracy, has not so far pursued the offer.
The bill for hair colouring, cut and perm came to more than 1,000 yuan (about HK$1,340), paid by Ms Deng's secretary.
Although Chinese stylists are much cheaper, many of China's nouveaux riches are turning up at foreign-run salons for the prestige.
As an artist, Ms Deng seems to be doing fairly well. She has exhibited her flower and abstract paintings abroad, selling some for as much as HK$120,000.
