The public relations company Hill & Knowlton, which has offices in most corners of the globe, seems to like controversial clients. In the USA, for example, it serves the Teamsters Union, the Church of Scientology, and Mr Ken Lay of Enron, the energy company whose record breaking bankruptcy was accompanied by allegations of dishonest business practices on a truly heroic scale. So it must be heartening for them that in South Africa, they look after the Tobacco Institute. All over the world: nice people to do business with.