Homophobia in Hong Kong

Is homosexuality a kind of contagious virus? And that by watching it on T.V and one would be infected? – Jovisky, a gay man in Hong Kong

On Jan 20, the Broadcasting Authority (BA) issued a strong advice concerning RTHK’s television programme “Hong Kong Connection”(鏗鏘集). There were very strong reactions from the local blogsphere and gay community against BA’s advice.

The BA’s explanations were published in the press release:
1. the programme was biased towards homosexuality, promoted homosexuality and contained discriminating elements;
2. it was unsuitable for broadcast at the scheduled time and exerted a bad influence on children and youths;
3. it was unfair to Christians as a whole as the reference to opposition from a Christian in the programme gave viewers a misleading impression that all Christians were irrational;
4. it did not mention the undesirable aspects of homosexuality such as AIDS; and
5. it did not contain a warning caption.

The BA considered that the programme was presented in the form of a documentary and that the contents of the programme about homosexuality and the legalization of homosexual marriage were controversial in many societies including Hong Kong. The programme was therefore a factual programme dealing with matters of public policy or controversial issues of public importance in Hong Kong and should be subject to the impartiality rule under the relevant code. However, the programme presented only the merits of homosexual marriage and featured only the views of three homosexuals on the legislation of homosexual marriage, rendering the presentation unfair, partial and biased towards homosexuality and having the effect of promoting the acceptance of homosexual marriage.

The BA also considered the programme unsuitable for broadcast within the Family View Hours as children and young viewers watching the programme might have no knowledge of homosexuality and might be adversely affected by the partial contents of the programme if parental guidance was not provided.

RTHK was strongly advised to observe more closely paragraph 2 of Chapter 2 (family viewing policy), paragraph 1 of Chapter 7 (likely effects of all material shown on television on children), and paragraphs 2 and 3 of Chapter 9 (impartiality) of the Generic Code of Practice on Television Programme Code.

I was shocked. That anyone who reports on sexual minority’s rights as human rights would be subjected to the judgment of bias and impartiality is completely unacceptable. This censorship struck a huge blow in Hong Kong’s being more embracing of diversity. It shows how powerfully assimilation functions in a strictly heterosexual society that is bound by inveterate traditions.

Picture adopted from the film Lan-yu.