Ex-cigarette boss good for HK tourism (Letter to Editor, 14 June 2007)

In his letter ("Tourism hopes go up in smoke", June 11), Andy Niven argues that the newly appointed executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Anthony Lau Chon-hon, is unfit to represent Hong Kong tourism, and that "anyone who has had a leading role in the tobacco industry should not be representing the public face of any city".

On a similar note, Professor Anthony Hedley said he felt "despair at the news that Hong Kong's promotion of its tourism assets is now in the hands of a transnational tobacco company veteran" ("Consumer forced to take the initiative", June 12).

I would like to give my personal assurance to both correspondents that Mr Lau has been appointed to promote not cigarettes but tourism. Both the Hong Kong Tourism Board in general and myself as an individual support anti-smoking measures introduced in our city and would never encourage people to smoke.

The selection panel and board members chose Mr Lau for the position of executive director because of his extensive marketing experience from working in a highly competitive industry, which is subject to intense public scrutiny and strict marketing standards worldwide.

We firmly believe that his wealth of marketing experience, his exposure to a highly challenging environment and his international perspective, make him an excellent choice to help us build a strong brand for Hong Kong in an intensely competitive global tourism market.

James Tien, chairman, Hong Kong Tourism Board