Prostitution in Hong Kong

Prostitution in Hong Kong is legal, but a whole host of activities surrounding prostitution are not, such as soliciting for sex and living off "immoral earnings".

The main public venues for sex workers in Hong Kong are topless bars, karaoke bars and massage parlours. However, much of the commercial sex worker industry consists of women working in small, usually first floor one room apartments (usually referred to as "one-woman brothels"). They advertise for clients through the Internet and local classifieds such as in free magazine Brink. Another major aspect of this trade is migrant sex workers. These sex workers are particularly visible in the Wan Chai district, catering mainly to Western businessmen and tourists. The sex workers operating in this area are predominantly Thai and Filipino. Many work on a freelance basis in Wan Chai bars and discotheques (see Wan Chai Bar Girls article for an in depth description of commercial sex work in Wan Chai). Transsexual sex workers from Thailand seeking clients can also be seen in the Wan Chai district.

Many migrant sex workers arrive on a short tourist visa and try to make as much as money as possible by prostituting illegally before leaving Hong Kong, some returning frequently. There are also "underground" organizations (such as Thai restaurants and escort bars) that arrange for foreign girls (usually Thai) to gain work in Hong Kong legally with an entertainment visa, but in fact they actually work in go-go bars in Wan Chai or other hostess clubs around Hong Kong.

Despite the more visible presence of Thai and Filipino sex workers in Hong Kong, the majority of migrant sex workers who come to Hong Kong are from mainland China. Originally these sex workers took advantage of favourable visa arrangements with Hong Kong following the 1997 return of the territory to China. However, tightening of these visa requirements has meant that Mainland sex workers often come to Hong Kong by a more circuitous route. This involves visiting other south-east Asian countries such as Singapore and Malaysia first, only entering Hong Kong on their return journey to China using shorter seven or fourteen day visas. Owing to the shorter stays in Hong Kong and the more expensive travel costs, sex workers not protected by underground organizations are placed in an extremely vulnerable situation. The necessity to make money quickly (to pay for the travel arrangements and cover the high cost of renting apartments, advertising etc. in Hong Kong) means that the sex workers are more likely to take risks. Also if the sex workers are abused, they are less likely to seek redress from the relevant authorities. There are several NGOs that work closely with sex workers in Hong Kong; these include Ziteng and Aids Concern [1]. Ziteng campaigns for changes in the law, in particular the overturn of ban on brothels with more than one prostitute, since this prevents sex workers banding together for protection.

The laws of Hong Kong currently allow classified ads for prostitution and websites that allow clients to make appointments with prostitutes.

Movies about prostitution in Hong Kong

• The World of Suzie Wong (1961)
• Call Girl 1988 (應召女郎一九八八)
• Hong Kong Gigolo (香港舞男) (1990), stars Simon Yam
• Girls Without Tomorrow 1992 (現代應召女郎, 92應召女郎) (1992), stars Vivian Chow
• Call Girls '94 (94應召女郎) (1994)
• Durian Durian (榴槤飄飄, 榴槤飄香) (2000), directed by Fruit Chan
• Hollywood Hong-Kong (香港有個荷里活) (2001), directed by Fruit Chan
• Public Toilet (人民公廁)(2002), directed by Fruit Chan
• Golden Chicken (金雞) (2002), stars Sandra Ng
• Golden Chicken 2(金雞2) (2004), stars Sandra Ng

See also

• Prostitution in the People's Republic of China