A Hong Kong star faces a lawsuit over adverts she appeared in for beauty product SK-II, which has been found to contain harmful metals.

A WOMAN in eastern China's Jiangxi Province is suing Hong Kong film star Carina Lau who appeared in an advertisement endorsing Japanese cosmetics brand SK-II.

"She should pay for cheating customers with false advertising," said furious 43-year-old Lu Ping.

Lu filed a lawsuit against Lau and is awaiting a local court decision on whether it will accept the case.

Lu saw an advertisement in a fashion magazine in January last year, in which Lau claimed using the product for four weeks could help "reduce wrinkles by 47 percent and make you appear 12 years younger."

Because Lu is about the same age as the actress, she decided to try the product.

She bought a bottle of skin-tightening, anti-wrinkle facial milk. But 28 days later, her skin had not become silky. Instead, she says, her face became itchy and she felt a burning sensation.

Last month, China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine found chromium and neodymium in nine SK-II products, including the one Lu used.

The toxic heavy metals can cause dermatitis and skin rashes. Neodymium also causes harm to eyes, lungs and liver. They are banned for use in cosmetics in China.

SK-II products were taken off the shelves in China last month and Procter and Gamble, the company that owns the brand, was fined 200,000 yuan (US$25,000) for false advertising.

But Lu believes Lau is also culpable. "I wouldn't have bought it (the product) if she hadn't advertised it," she said.

Lau has continued to support SK-II, saying there is nothing wrong with the brand and she would "support SK-II as always."

Qiu Baochang, director of the committee for protecting consumers' rights under the Beijing Bar Association, said misleading consumers with false advertisements is potentially very harmful.

Lau is not the only celebrity to be involved in questionable advertising.

An actor who had appeared on screen as Chairman Mao promoted a hospital to cure sterility, and an actress vaunted the merits of a medicine with her son.

The advertisements were canceled, but neither actor was punished.

Regulations and laws do not specify the responsibility of celebrities in cases of false advertising.

Lu Ping's attorney, Tang Wei, believes that if a movie star promotes a product without paying attention to product quality, the advertisements will - at the very least - damage the star's reputation.

"False advertisements are equivalent to fraud, and those who profit from fraud are guilty," Tang said. He is confident about the lawsuit.

In August, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce banned medical and food advertisements with celebrities acting as patients, consumers and experts.

 

(Source: Shanghai Daily, 2006-10-07)