After weeks of protests over its photo ban against Hongkongers, Dolce & Gabbana finally broke its silence early yesterday morning - as most of the city slept - to say it was 'truly sorry'.
But the delayed apology was not enough to appease some angry internet users, who suggested another photo shoot protest be staged on Sunday. The Italian fashion house issued a statement around 3am yesterday apologising for alleged criminal intimidation of a photographer outside its Harbour City store.
'We understand that the events which unfolded in front of the Dolce & Gabbana boutique on Canton Road have offended the citizens of Hong Kong,' it said. 'For this we are truly sorry and we apologise.'
That came after police on Tuesday said they were investigating reports that a security guard at the Harbour City threatened to smash a reporter's camera as he tried to take a photo of the shop from the street.
Two weeks ago, Hongkongers were reportedly told by the store's security guards - at the company's request - that only mainland tourists and foreigners could freely take pictures of the shop, citing copyright protection as the reason.
That angered the public and the Tsim Sha Tsui shop became the target of a series of protests organised via Facebook. On January 8, over 1,000 protesters gathered in Canton Road to demonstrate their rage by taking photos of the shop. Similar protests were held at the weekend. The shop had to be closed for business during the protests.
Dolce & Gabbana's Hong Kong office said it had nothing to do with the request, but did not apologise. The fashion house's Milan headquarters had not responded to queries from the South China Morning Post before yesterday's apology.