In my childhood, Hong Kong people always named food or commodity with Switzerland, for instance, cookies, candies, package food, etc. In addition, their logos were represented in the landscape of nature environment, such as snowy mountain like mont blanc. As a kid, we didn’t have any idea where Switzerland or Zurich is, the image of a country was being constructed through smell, taste or package of snacks, though the landscape had nothing to do with the candy. Later, I realised those food brands manufactured their products in rural area in Hong Kong, which migrated all their production lines to Mainland China. Indeed, they keep their brand in associated with Switzerland. Recently, I am working on my own research project on Communist film after WWII until early 80s; apart its propaganda part, protagonists always struggled with tough nature environment. Perhaps this is part of the reasons that the imagery of Switzerland was idolised and reflected in products.
