Dolce & Gabbana's apology too late

Dolce & Gabbana's apology too late

Jan 19, 2012 SCMP

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."

Internet users rejected the apology, however. "Although the company apologised, it did so for having offended Hong Kong residents. It did not admit that it was wrong ... to ban photos from being taken," said the creator of a Facebook page promoting another protest this Sunday. The company has offered no guarantee that it will allow photographs to be taken outside the store in future, and did not identify the security guard responsible for the discriminatory comments, the Facebook page said.

Vocabulary

1. alleged 被說成的

2. apology 道歉

3. ban 禁止

4. boutique 女裝商店

5. broke its silence 打破沈默

6. criminal 犯法的; 刑事

7. discriminatory 歧視性的

8. intimidation 恐嚇

9. offend 觸怒

10. security guard 警衛

11. statement 聲明