King may have to make way for hero

Hong Kong officials who are considering swapping a statue of King George VI for one of a Chinese revolutionary were today accused of making a misguided attempt to erase the past.

"Dr Sun Yat-sen is more important than King George VI, this is Chinese soil," argued local council chairman Wu Chor-nam.

He wants the king moved to a less visible space among the animals at a nearby zoo.

But others on the council said Hong Kong’s history as a British colony cannot be washed away and said George should stay in place after more than 60 years looking down on the leafy park.