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What do you get when you cross a seductive woman, a bunch of angry feminists and the devil?  City Telecom's (CTI) ad campaign.

 CTI is grovelling for forgiveness in the wake of a piggy advert that raised female hackles and male, um, eyebrows.

 It appeared in leading newspapers late last month, displaying a woman's bare legs, slightly parted.

 'Come on up', said the slogan below.

 Guess what?  HK's feminists were not pleased.

 Angry women's groups rejected as inadequate a verbal sorry-about-that from the company's chairman. Nor were they impressed by a follow-up newspaper ad in which the woman's legs were crossed.

 Hence the 'Public Apology' fliers now appearing in customer mailboxes.

 'The advertisement was offensive and has given rise to public concern,' the text says.

 'We treasure all criticisms on us and guarantee not to repeat the mistake.

 'The company will be more prudent in handling future advertisement.'  Slow learners, those CTI folk.

 That's the second time this year the firm's ads have upset the public.

 In February, a Satanic television commercial scared viewers and provoked more than 200 complaints.

 The Prince of Darkness had graced the screens to promote late-night discounts.

 The company also came under fire for featuring the devil in its '666' ads.

 Sounds like CTI is having a hell of a time.

We see Hong Kong's economy has taken its toll on Britain's wealthy.

 The Sunday Times Rich List 1999 saw the Fleming family lose almost half their fortune. Regent Pacific's Jim Mellon also fell a few rungs on the ladder of economic success.

 But a closer examination shows some good news.

 We were pleased to see a couple of creative types raking in the cash.

 Anne Wood made a mint for her bulbous, coloured Teletubbies.

 And inventor James Dyson was among the 10 Fastest Fortunes.

 The multi-millionaire is the father of the cyclonic vacuum cleaner.

 We're not sure exactly how it works.

 But Mr Dyson certainly cleaned up.

When Henry-the-taxi-driver speaks, Steven Groppi listens.

 Forget industry analysts, the Chase Manhattan senior executive told his audience at the launch of 'The Chase Guide to Corporate Treasury'.

 The best economic forecasters are Hong Kong taxi drivers.

 Here's what Mr Groppi's driver predicts for the year ahead:  1. Hong Kong is turning a corner, and the year 2000 will see steady growth.

 2. Now is the time to invest in local real estate.

 3. This year will be bad for typhoons.

Looks like it's happening again.

 Austpac PRD Realty is moving bits of Sydney around the harbour.

 The Singapore-based company came under fire and investigation last year when they ran a 'doctored photograph' in a property advertisement.

 It placed the proffered development near Sydney's Harbour Bridge, where it commanded a view of the Opera House.

 But the true location was at least 11 kilometres from the city.

 Now Austpac is offering Hong Kongers homes on'Balmain Shores'.

 The Sydney suburb has become famous for its renovated terrace houses, upmarket restaurants and art galleries. The area boasts some of the most sought-after real estate in Australia.

 So a Sydney resident was surprised to discover that Balmain Shores was not actually in Balmain.

 The flats were in the adjoining suburb of Rozelle.

 Located next to and below a main bridge, the area bears little resemblance to its upmarket neighbour.

 But the Austpac people were telling potential buyers Rozelle was 'in the Balmain area'.

 'As a Sydneysider, I can tell you this is laughable,' an Aussie reader said.

 Staff at the Hong Kong office conceded the development wasn't in the famously beautiful area that has made the Balmain name so famous.

 'It is close by,' said the director's secretary.

 'Balmain itself is under the council of Rozelle.

 'It's very much like Mid-Levels is considered Central. Something like that.'  Interesting logic.

 So if you live on Des Voeux Road, it's part of the same district as Mid-Levels. It therefore is, in fact, Mid-Levels.

 And people above Hollywood Road are actually living in Central.

 Confused Lai See is going home now.

 Wherever that is.



CTI grovels after leggy ads go step too far