HK cake serves up slice of controversy in UK show

A screen grab from a video of the elaborate cake, posted on Twitter. Photo: RTHK

A cake competition in Britain had had a taste of the political dispute that's gripped Hong Kong in recent months after organisers withdrew an entry depicting symbols of the SAR's protest movement.



The controversial confection features a fondant Guy Fawkes mask, umbrellas and a figure of a protester, while it also plays the protest song "Glory to Hong Kong".



However organisers of Cake International, which bills itself as the "world's greatest cake show", told the baker that the entry had attracted complaints from attendees and had been disqualified from the event in Birmingham as it was deemed "offensive".



"The content and message behind the cake has been viewed as offensive and led to complaints from attendees, therefore the decision has been taken to withdraw it from the competition," the organisers said in a note shared on the Instagram page of the baker's employer, Sheung Wan cafe 3rd Space.



"Cake International provides an inclusive platform for the international cake decorating and sugar art community to celebrate together and share their passion."



In a post on its Facebook page, 3rd Space said the organisers had told the baker that the cake had been the subject of complaints from competitors from the mainland.