Workshops and forums are often used in Hong Kong to debate important issues in the hope of better understanding them. They are a popular and generally constructive use of our freedom of speech.
But the workshop taking place today on the subject of sexual orientation is unusual - and it raises serious concerns.
The organisers of the function include Christian groups that support traditional family values. The focus of the forum is on helping gay people to 'restore' their 'sexual wholeness' - in other words, to become heterosexuals.
Participants are expected to include social workers, teachers, parents and members of the clergy. They will listen to people who have switched their sexual preferences from gay to heterosexual talking about their experiences. There will also be discussion sessions.
The organisers have been careful to stress they are not intending to be judgmental - they are not expressly stating that being gay is bad. But the implications are obvious.
Among the sessions planned for today are those on 'overcoming sexual addiction', 'child sexual abuse' and 'gender identity confusion'. The suggestion is that people can choose whether or not they wish to be gay - and that they can be 'helped' to opt for a heterosexual lifestyle.