Agencies to probe cafe over
name
Diao Yu Dao moniker draws attention of
police, Acra and ad authority
The Sophia Road cafe has a signboard bearing the words
Diao Yu Dao, China's name for the group of islands in the East
China Sea whose ownership is disputed by Tokyo and
Beijing. -- ST PHOTO: NURIA LING
By MELISSA LIN
BARELY two months after opening for business, a cafe at Peace
Centre - called Diao Yu Dao - has come to the attention of at least
three agencies for its name linked to islands whose ownership is
disputed by Japan and China.
The agencies are the Advertising Standards
Authority of Singapore (Asas), the Accounting and Corporate
Regulatory Authority (Acra) and the police.
Diaoyu is China's name for the group of islands in
the East China Sea. Japan, which controls them, calls them the
Senkaku islands.
The Sophia Road cafe, with an adjoining bakery,
opened in October and sells Hong Kong fare like bolo bun and
roasted meat. On the shop's signboard are the words Diao Yu Dao,
accompanied by a picture of the islands.
Dao is the Chinese word for islands.
The eatery's walls are adorned with over 30 framed
graphics, maps and photographs related to the islands, as well as
information about the islands' history and the dispute over their
ownership.
The cafe owners are believed to be a couple, both
Chinese Singaporeans. They could not be reached for comment.
Dr Tan Sze Wee, chairman of Asas, which regulates
signboards and advertisements, said it will be investigating the
cafe for possible infringement of the Singapore Code of Advertising
Practice.
A clause in the code states: "Advertisements should
not adopt or encourage a confrontational approach to resolving
societal conflicts or differences. Advertisements should not
exploit or fuel conflicts relating to national problems and
controversial policies or issues."
A report in My Paper last month quoted the cafe's
manager as saying that his boss "had no political motivations
behind the outlet's concept and theme".
The police said a report had been lodged and they
are "looking into the matter". It is understood the issue is
related to the cafe's name.
An Acra spokesman said the cafe was registered
under the name Onion Restaurant and Bar Pte Ltd.
Acra has conducted checks on the company for
issuing invoices under the name Diao Yu Dao and not complying with
a Companies' Act provision to use invoices with its registered name
and registration number.
The company has since made changes to its invoices,
Acra added.
While the cafe may have used the name Diao Yu to
stand out from others, its quality of food is what customers are
more focused on.
Madam Sarah Sim, 34, said she did not even notice
the cafe's decorations.
"I just needed to buy food for my kids," added the
secretary.
Passer-by Selvaraju Robert, 56, who said he was
aware of the territorial dispute, found the cafe's theme
"interesting". But the storekeeper added: "I'm more interested in
the food."
Home, The Straits Times, December 25 2012, Pg B3
