Remember Darkie toothpaste? Well, it now goes by the more politically correct name, Darlie. Hong Kong being what it is, there must be equal opportunity in racial epithets for naming toothpastes. So now we have the new brand Chinky, which has been pointed out to me by several alert readers.
One reader, David Coates, wrote: 'I was amazed when I went in to my local branch of Watsons in the Hong Kong Gold Coast this weekend. They were prominently displaying a new brand of toothpaste called Chinky. The words 'chink' or 'chinky' are derogatory terms used by some ignorant people in the UK (and possibly elsewhere) to refer to Chinese. I am stunned to see them used on a product, especially one on sale in Hong Kong.'
You can't say Hin Sang Hong - its 'brand management' company, whatever that means - is being insensitive: they boast of their product as being a 'desensitizing toothpaste'. A company spokeswoman said 'chinky' is a direct transliteration of the Chinese chin kin, which means tooth health, but she added the name may be changed if there is any misunderstanding.