Mystery man could unlock sexology files

AN elderly Hong Kong man could hold the key to the mystery of missing documents that belonged to the pioneer of sexology, Berlin researcher Magnus Hirschfeld.

Hirschfeld, who was known as the 'Einstein of sex', was hounded by the Nazis in the 1930s. Adolf Hitler branded him 'the most dangerous Jew alive', and he was at the forefront of the science of sexology when it emerged in Berlin at the turn of the century.

His protege was Li Shiu-tong, grandson of Qing Dynasty general and emperor's confidant Li Hung-chang. Li Shiu-tong had travelled to Berlin to learn about the revolution in sexual studies that was sweeping Europe.

He followed Hirschfeld into exile in Switzerland, was named as the sole beneficiary in the famed sexologist's will, and later returned to Hong Kong.

Now, with the 14th World Congress of Sexology opening at the Convention and Exhibition Centre tomorrow, organisers are desperately trying to locate Mr Li or his descendants.

Ng Man-lun, professor of psychiatry and president of the local organising committee for the congress, said it was believed that Hirschfeld managed to pass secret manuscripts to Mr Li in the days before the Nazis closed in.

Flamboyantly gay, a transvestite, fiercely intelligent, leftist and Jewish, Hirschfeld was anathema to the Nazi concept of 'Aryan purity' and a perfect candidate to be demonised by Hitler.