Last month, the EOC made a submission to the Hong Kong Advisory Council on AIDS, having attended its consultation meetings with community stakeholders in July regarding strategies for HIV prevention and care. The EOC’s concerns revolve around three issues: (i) sexuality education in schools; (ii) support for non-ethnic Chinese communities; and (iii) stigma around LGBT identities.

In the absence of a dedicated and comprehensive guideline from the authorities for sexuality education, schools in Hong Kong are currently given a wide discretion to decide what to teach, when, and how. The EOC submits that a curriculum addressing the meaning of intimacy, the discrimination against people living with HIV, and the importance of consensual, safe and responsible sex is essential to raising awareness of HIV prevention and reducing prejudice among the younger generation.

There are also worries among migrant domestic workers from the Philippines and Indonesia about losing their jobs once their employers find out they are keeping condoms or had an HIV test, while other ethnic minorities in the city feel uncomfortable seeking advice from someone not conversant in their first language. The EOC believes that there is room for a more collaborative and coordinated effort. HIV prevention and care providers, for instance, can engage NGOs on a more regular basis to resolve issues of power imbalance and language barrier.

Last but not the least, social workers and medical professionals have reportedly made judgmental, sometimes harassing comments when serving LGBT people, potentially discouraging others in the community from finding help. There is a clear need for more training to encourage empathy and sensitivity.

• Download the submission