Hong Kong Christian Group Bill Protest

Hong Kong’s Christian and family concern groups have responded fiercely against the territory’s government’s initiatives to look into possible legislation against discrimination of homosexuals. The Bill will cover equal access to employment, education, facilities and services but not same-sex marriage.
Although legislation against discrimination is currently little more than a distant possibility, the Hong Kong Alliance For Family, by an umbrella group of Christian and familyâ€? organisations and linked to The Society for Truth and Light took out four full-page advertisements in a local Chinese language paper on April 29 claiming that over 9000 individuals and more than 100 groups have signed a petition to express disapproval of the legislation. The groups believe that the Bill would unleash a dangerous tide of tolerance and upset society’s values.
In another campaign, the Alliance, the Sex Culture Society and other groups have launched an “one person, one letter” campaign to ensure their disapproval registers in government. Reportedly, almost 2,000 such letters have been sent to the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Home Affairs Bureau and the Chief Executive’s Office.
The Home Affairs Bureau will conduct a telephone survey of some 2,000 people in June, selected at random, to gauge public attitudes towards homosexuals. It will also attempt to measure community attitudes towards the rights of gays, lesbians and bisexuals, such as access to spousal rights, welfare and public housing, as well as the legal age of consent, which is currently 21 for homosexuals and 18 for heterosexuals. On the basis of those findings, the government will decide whether Hong Kong is ready for change.
Meanwhile, HK gay group, Civil Rights for Sexual Diversities, has set up an online petition in support of the Sexual Orientation Discrimination Bill. The petition can be viewed/signed here.