Antonio Minding His Manners

A protocol expert and an eight-page manual offer Los Angeles' mayor tips on how to avoid stepping on diplomatic toes.

By Duke Helfand, Times Staff Writer
October 16, 2006

GUANGZHOU, China — Let's say you're the mayor of Los Angeles on an official visit here and you crack a joke about politicians.

Bad move.

Or perhaps you bring a lovely crystal vase wrapped in white paper, the color for funerals.

Oops.

Luckily for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, his staff has compiled a protocol playbook for his East Asian trade mission to China, South Korea and Japan that contains enough do's and don'ts to give Emily Post a headache.

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