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Anna Healy Fenton

Against a backdrop of riots and a mounting death toll in northern Nigerian cities, Hong Kong's Miss World 2002 entrant, Victoria Jolly, is considering whether to stay in the capital, Abuja, or come home.

Her father, Hong Kong police officer Robin Jolly, said last night he was in regular phone contact with his daughter and TVB, organisers of the Miss Hong Kong contest.

Ms Jolly, 20, earned her Miss World place by being runner-up in the SAR pageant. She is ranked in the top four of the 90 girls for the Miss World final on December 7, with favourite contestants from Norway, India and Colombia.

Ms Jolly is by herself in the strife-torn country.

'As a concerned parent, together with TVB, we're considering our options,' said Mr Jolly. 'I'm sure the organisers of Miss World are considering their options too. I think they have been a bit naive from the beginning.

'Victoria's position is she does not feel threatened. She's aware of what's going on and is concerned.

'She's trying to be as responsible as she can be, and she'd like to feel she's not intimidated by the situation.'

Security around the girls and at their hotel was tight and the government seemed to be doing a good job, he said.

For now, she's staying in Nigeria. 'If I felt my daughter's life was threatened I'd pull her out immediately - that's TVB's attitude too,' Mr Jolly said. Whether his daughter should stay or return home raised difficult questions.

'Should we let the fundamentalists win? Victoria's view is why should we give in to terrorist action which denies people's freedom . . . but it's difficult if you might lose or win this title on the strength of people dying.'

anna.healyfenton@scmp.com



Miss World becomes contest of conscience for young HK hopeful