Don't be so quick to condemn 'immoral' young sex workers

A 15 year-old girl, believed to have been involved in compensated dating, was found dead in a bag at a rubbish collection centre in Mong Kok this week.

While some people might view this as a tragedy that happens only "once a while", the seriousness of the issue is a constant concern for those of us with experience of working with young female sex workers.

Our worries relate not only to the girls themselves, but also to their families, and society in general.

We have seen from our project helping young female sex workers since 2010, which includes those involved in compensated dating, that they are relatively young - many are still of school age - and have little experience of life. Like other teenagers, when faced with a crisis or unreasonable demands from adults, they might not think they have enough strength or courage to deal with the situation.

As part of our project, we have carried out research with the Chinese University of Hong Kong about threats against young female sex workers. More than half of interviewees said they had experienced clients forcing them to take off condoms during sex acts, and 23 per cent had experienced some form of sexual violence.

These figures are a wake-up call to educate the girls about their rights, to protect themselves. More importantly, we are eager to understand why they have got to this stage, even if they know the risks.

Some people might think it is all about the temptations of money and a luxury lifestyle. While it's true these young women can make money, they are often seeking recognition, appreciation, or even love and care from their clients - something they have never got from their own family.