Fair gives exhibitor warning over book signing by pseudo-model

The Trade Development Council issued a warning yesterday to a book fair exhibitor over its promotion of a picture book featuring racy photographs of a young model - as criticism mounted against the fair organiser for allowing the sale of such books at a supposedly cultural event.

The council confirmed that a warning letter was issued to Best Reading Book Stores in Hall 1C of the Convention and Exhibition Centre for holding a signing session at its booth where model Taiz Jiang autographed her Deep V photo album in a revealing dress on Wednesday.

Before the fair opened, the council said autograph sessions were not allowed at exhibitors' booths - though they were allowed at areas allocated to publishers for the purpose - and it also urged participants to dress respectfully.

The council said staff had not been told about Wednesday's signing but had issued a warning after an investigation. 'If they do it again we have the right to terminate their exhibition,' a spokesman said. 'We have asked our frontline staff to pay more attention to events like this.'

Despite the action, Polytechnic University associate professor Chung Kim-wah accused the council of only eyeing dollar signs and ignoring the public's expectations when arranging promotional events.

And Choi Chi-sum of the Society for Truth and Light said the council had set too low a requirement when allowing models like Taiz Jiang - who have become one of the major attractions - to parade at the fair.