Parties accused of sex-trade hypocrisy
Feminist groups have accused three major political parties of hypocrisy over pre-election promises to protect women's rights, as Shamshuipo activists step up their campaign against prostitutes in the district.
The Democratic Party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) and the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood all came under attack for encouraging police and the public to target and stigmatise sex-industry workers.
'I condemn the parties for their hypocrisy,' Lam Wai-ha of the Association for the Advancement of Feminism said. 'Before the election, they recognised these women to be disadvantaged, and promised support but after the election they are now using this very vulnerable sector of society to increase their popularity.'
The attack, launched by the association and Eiteng - an organisation advocating the rights of sex workers - came as police promised a further crackdown on vice in the area. 'It is no secret that in these big parties, women's rights are not on the agenda,' Ms Lam said. 'But they were very receptive and signed a declaration promising to support the rights of these women,' she said. But now they had done a U-turn.
Elaine Lam Yee-hing, of Eiteng, said: 'The Democratic Party is urging stronger police patrolling, and the DAB is even worse: encouraging landlords to evict sex workers.'
Ms Lam said many of the women were single mothers unable to find a job who faced constant harassment by police.
Democratic Party member and Tuen Mun district councillor Josephine Chan Shu-ying said the party did not mean to target sex workers in its campaign, but the vice syndicates who control them. DAB chairman Tsang Yok-sing said he had received numerous complaints from residents about the workers' behaviour.
A rally against vice activities will be held in Shamshuipo tomorrow.
