Sometimes you can try just a little too hard to please your boss and it all backfires. Last week, a Hong Kong Tourism Board public relations officer tried to prevent the press from questioning board chairman Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee on the impact on tourism of potential industrial action by Cathay Pacific pilots.
The function, to launch a Hong Kong story-telling competition, was held a day after Cathay Pacific pilots voted in favour of industrial action from July 1.
Before the function started, the tourist board's public relations officers inquired from the members of the press what questions they had up their sleeves for Mrs Chow.
The press unanimously said: 'What's her view on the Cathay Pacific dispute?'
The assistant public relations manager claimed Mrs Chow would probably not answer questions unrelated to the story-telling competition. Hmmm - as if the outspoken Mrs Chow would not comment on the possibility of Hong Kong's international airline being unable to fly in lots of tourists.
Just before the floor was opened to questions the public relations officer upped the ante. Mrs Chow, it was declared, would not answer questions about Cathay Pacific. Naturally, the press completely ignored the PR officer and so did Mrs Chow. Each question on Cathay Pacific was answered without hesitation.