The Social Welfare Department has angered a gay rights group by inviting a psychiatrist who believes homosexuals can be turned into heterosexuals to give a talk to social workers.
The speaker, Dr Hong Kwai-wah, a psychiatrist affiliated to a Christian group, said he only taught attendees how to communicate with gay and lesbian youths. But the rights group said his presence was offensive.
'We know Dr Hong had practised conversion therapy ... We don't think it has a scientific [basis] and it has made some depressed,' said Yeo Wai-wai, a member of Rainbow of Hong Kong.
Yeo and five other members protested outside the Lady Trench Training Centre in Wan Chai, where Dr Hong Kwai-wah delivered the 31/2 hour workshop to about 30 government social workers yesterday.
Hong said he adopted a neutral attitude in the talk. He confirmed that he believed in so-called conversion therapy, in which homosexuals are helped to change their sexual orientation, but said it was not the focus yesterday.
'I only taught them how to understand the same-sex issue better,' Hong said. 'I didn't tell the social workers they should help change their clients' sexual orientation. Social workers should respect clients' choices ... but they don't have to be always pro-gay either.