Word of mouth

An attempt to cash in on the World Cup by flogging England T-shirts could backfire on Patrick Saw, a partner in Hubbub restaurant in Central. Some locals are upset that T-shirts available from his Shelley Street eatery bear the slogan 'We lub chu Engrand (for da CUP)'.

'I find it racist and offensive,' one local customer told SAR. 'It's one thing to tell a joke that makes fun of the way people here speak English, but it's another to put it on a T-shirt. But I shouldn't be surprised because I guess racism sells.'

Malaysian-born Saw said the idea just popped into his head. 'I grew up listening to the Hong Kong accent. It's fun, tongue-in-cheek and a good laugh. I don't think the Malaysian accent is any good either. If people made fun of our accent I would laugh. Discrimination is the last issue Hong Kong should be worried about,' he added, puzzlingly.

The shirts are available for $80 with three other slogans to choose from: Slip Of The Tung; Red Whine - Mao Tais; and The Mao The Merrier. Saw is considering a fifth featuring the Cantonese exclamation 'Aiya'.