The managing director of Pacific Coffee has publicly apologised for carrying what he described as a 'morally offensive and inexcusable' quote from Adolf Hitler on blackboards above counters in the coffee shops.
The apology, carried in an advertisement in today's South China Morning Post, comes after the Hitler quote was used on the blackboards carrying the daily 'thought for the day' in all Hong Kong's Pacific Coffee outlets on July 1. The quote read: 'The victor will never be asked if he told the truth - Adolf Hitler'. Its use was condemned by the Israeli Consulate and the Jewish Community Centre.
A number of readers wrote to the Post criticising Pacific Coffee after the paper reported the incident on Saturday, while another reader wrote to defend the use of the quote.
Today's apology, signed by Thomas Neir, the company's managing director, says: 'I wish to apologise unreservedly, both personally and on behalf of Pacific Coffee Company, on the extremely unfortunate quote that recently appeared on our 'Thought for the Day' blackboards.
'It [the quote] was morally offensive and inexcusable, and we have instituted controls to ensure that an event like this cannot occur again. Pacific Coffee Company strives to be a positive influence in the communities in which we serve. We fell far short of this objective on this occasion.'
Marketing manager Meir Ben-Rechav, a customer who complained to the company after visiting a branch in Hollywood Road, Central, said he was satisfied with the company's action.
One Chinese reader sent a letter to the Post saying: 'I am writing to express my indignation and disgust over the Hitler quote used by Pacific Coffee Company, seen in your paper today.