Such crass insensitivity threatens our reputation

The use of photographs from the Nazi era to adorn a Kowloon pub is the latest example of an insensitivity that is threatening to do lasting damage to Hong Kong's international reputation.

While the sight of young drinkers enjoying karaoke while surrounded by pictures of Adolf Hitler is shocking, it can no longer be viewed with surprise. Hong Kong has a sorry record of inappropriate and offensive references to the Nazi regime responsible for race hate and genocide in Europe in the 1930s and 40s.

Only last week fashion chain Izzue was forced to apologise for a display of Nazi-themed clothing, having decked out its stores with the regime's flags and swastikas. The reaction of the chain's marketing manager was: 'This is Hong Kong and Chinese people are not sensitive about Nazism.'

While the statement is no justification for using Nazi symbols for commercial purposes, it does go to the heart of the matter. Many people here are simply unaware of what the Nazi regime stood for and the strong emotions it continues to provoke. This is not true of all, of course, and among those who complained to this newspaper were many Chinese readers.

But what is most disturbing about the Hunghom bar's display of Nazi photographs is that they have been there for four years without anyone complaining. The images, including a huge picture of what appears to be a death-camp execution, were treated by its clientele with indifference.

Here are a few facts, then, that should be known about the Nazis. The party led by Adolf Hitler seized power in Germany in the 1930s. Racism was central to its ideology and this led to the systematic slaughter of six million Jews, many of them gassed in concentration camps. Hitler's invasion of Poland, an opening gambit in his quest for world domination, led Europe into a devastating war.