Hong Kong baker’s protest-themed cake disqualified from international contest in Birmingham after mainlander lodges complaint
- The cake made by a baker from 3rd Space Cafe in Sheung Wan featured symbols of ongoing anti-government protests
- Organiser tells baker content and message on cake viewed as ‘offensive’, but it says on Facebook entry was disqualified for being oversized
A Hong Kong baker’s protest-themed cake was disqualified from an international cake competition in Britain after a contestant from mainland China lodged a complaint about the message it carried.
The baker from 3rd Space Cafe in Sheung Wan received an email on Saturday from Cake International, organiser of the event in Birmingham, which said the entry had been removed from the competition area. The Post has seen the email.
“The content and message behind the cake has been viewed as offensive and [it] led to complaints from attendees, therefore the decision has been taken to withdraw it from the competition,” it said.
An employee from the cafe said they were “surprised that the British organiser would give in”.
“There are many artworks around the world that talk about different social problems or even politics,” he said.
The employee said the baker, who did not want to be named, had joined the competition to fulfil her cake art aspirations and to “express her deepest concerns over what happened in her home”.