Get smart about sex

GETTING ADULTS to give you a straight answer about sex is rarely easy. Parents often squirm with embarrassment, and many teachers blush at the mention of the subject. But Graham Smith has no problem talking about it.

As chief executive of Aids Concern, Mr Smith believes that talking about sex can save lives. 'Young people are the future of the Aids epidemic - the lifestyles they choose to adopt could seriously affect the epidemic in Hong Kong,' he says.

In the SAR, the average age of first sexual experience now stands at 15, and many young people are more open-minded about sex than their parents. This puts parents at a disadvantage when it comes to educating their children about the topic, says Mr Smith. 'Parents tend to tell their children simply 'don't [have sex]', which mostly falls on deaf ears. If they are already doing it then they are going to go on doing it. That message does not teach safe sex,' he says.

Young people are increasingly realising that condoms are crucial, but he says they are used largely to prevent pregnancy rather than to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

'We cannot control youth sexuality, but we can try to make sure that it is an informed sexuality,' Mr Smith says.

Aids Concern, Hong Kong's first non-governmental Aids organisation, began pioneering outreach programmes in 1990. The group has just been given funding for a programme targeting school drop-outs. Mr Smith explains: 'Young people out of school might be at higher risk than those in school, and yet are less likely to get information about HIV prevention.'

He says young people going to rave parties across the border could also be at risk. Although the scene does not directly expose teenagers to HIV, the use of drugs such as Ecstasy can affect judgment when engaging in sex.