Ruby makes presence felt

She is big, she is bold and she is cuddly. More importantly, she is imaginary and has Hong Kong's power men and spineless women on the run.

We are talking about Ruby - the naked, amply proportioned doll that Body Shop bosses wanted to place as an advert in MTR stations.

The message to women - and men - was simple. Most women do not look like supermodels, nor should they have to.

Of course, the MTR banned smiling Ruby, deeming her obscene.

Obviously, its executives get enough exposure to images like Ruby's when they look in the full-length bathroom mirror each morning.

But now, the boss of the very organisation which is supposed to offer opinions on such 'obscenity' issues is diving for cover.