Making cosmetics count

When former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang became the first Asian woman to receive cosmetics company Clarins' 'Most Dynamic Woman' award on Thursday, spectators were left applauding - and scratching their heads.

'Today, 59,000 children will die of malnutrition, ill-treatment and war, 140 million aged 6 to 11 will not go to school, and 120 million will spend the night on the streets,' intoned company boss Christian Courtin-Clarins.

Mr Courtin-Clarins proved efficient at rattling off the figures - Clarins gives the award to women who help underprivileged children.

But one of the numbers cited left the audience guessing at the maths - the firm's claim that it has given the award to six women 'in more than 10 countries'.