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SCMP Reporter

A SHOCKING new survey last week claimed more than half of the girls who work in Hong Kong karaoke bars - many providing sex for male customers - were aged between 13 and 15.

  Social workers and legislators have demanded the Government bring in legislation banning girls under 18 from working as so-called ''public relations'' girls in the nightspots.

  The survey painted a grim picture of life inside the territory's karaoke bars.

  Many of the youngsters are vulnerable children being ruthlessly exploited by their bosses, but some, it would seem, know exactly what they are doing and exactly what is involved.

  They do it for the enormous cash ''rewards''.

  Yesterday, the Sunday Morning Post spoke to one PR girl to get the real story of what goes on in some of the territory's karaoke bars.

  The girl, 18, has been working in karaoke bars since she was 17. She claimed some PR girls - the ones who provide sexual services - can earn more than $100,000 a month.

  Q: Do clients come alone or in groups?   A: During the day, the clients are mainly ''dirty old men'' on their own, but at night most of them come in groups.

  Q: How old were you when you first started doing this work?   A: Seventeen. The manager checked my identity card; he knew how old I was.

  Q: Did he tell you you might be charged by the police?   A: Yes, but he said it wouldn't be a problem. Usually, the manager would tell us to leave before the police arrived. Sometimes, though, the police came. They would check our ID cards and time cards, and tell us that we shouldn't work in such places.

  Q: How do the clients usually treat the girls?   A: It depends on the girls. Some let their clients get away with a lot. But for me, I won't tolerate any sexual harassment.

  Q: Do you ever encounter any trouble?   A: Some clients have grabbed my clothes or my legs and have not let go of me, so I have had to push them away and leave the room. But some girls even let the clients have sex with them in the karaoke room. I would hit them if I couldn't get free from someone.

  Q: Does the manager help you if you don't want to accept a client?   A: No, he won't interfere. But he won't force you to go with one if you really don't want to.

  Q: Do clients try to grope you, pretending to be drunk?   A: Yes, but I push them away pretending I'm drunk as well.

  Q: Are all the girls as tough as you?   A: No, some girls will put up with a lot. It also depends on the karaoke bar: in some, the clients can do anything and so will the girls if there's enough money being offered.

  Q: Are the girls allowed to keep all the money paid for having sex with a client?   A: Yes, because their bosses are not concerned about anything that they do outside the bar.

  Q: What did you do before you started working in karaoke bars?   A: I worked as a clerk after I left school. But, I decided to work in the bars after I'd used up all my money and became bored with working in the office.

  I have a good friend working in the bar with me. I move from karaoke to karaoke with her. We are now only working about one or two days each week.

  Q: Is she also very tough with the clients?   A: Yes, she'll hit them if they try to do anything indecent.

  Q: Do you live with your family?   A: No. I moved from home because I was not happy there.

  Q: There is a handbill saying clients can ''buy'' the girls out from work for $500 an hour. How is the payment made?   A: There are many problems working in Tsim Sha Tsui. It's better if you want to make more money. But, you have to accompany the clients to go outside.

  Q: For what?   A: For sex. Although not all clients ask to take the girls out for sex, I'd say nine out of 10 do. When a client arrives the manager will bring a girl in. If the client does not like the girl, he can ask the manager for another after 15 minutes. The manager will also ask the client whether or not he would like to take the girl out.

  If they have sex outside, it costs about $1,500. The girls ask for $2,000 to $3,000 if they know clients are not familiar about the prices. And the girls get all the money. So, girls can earn more money working in Tsim Sha Tsui.

  I know a girl who earned between $100,000-$200,000 a month. She was underage.

  Q: Was she ever arrested?   A: I don't know. But there are many underage girls working in karaoke bars . . . they usually serve ''dirty old men''.

  Q: Are there many underage girls working in Mongkok?   A: Yes, that's where most of the underage girls work. Most of the PR girls in Tsim Sha Tsui are older.

  Q: How do you spend your money? Do you have any savings?   A: No. I use my money to buy gold, clothes, and on food and transport. Most of it goes on taxi fares . . . and now I have my hair washed every day at a salon. I don't want to do it myself because I have the money. Easy come, easy go.

  Q: What do you do if you run out of cash?   A: We can ask the bar to pay us in advance. Some girls are working for their boyfriends and some are working to finance a heroin habit.

  Q: Have you heard of any girls being forced to work in a karaoke bar?   A: No. Some girls are quite keen to work in the bars. I know one girl who is only 15 years old who is working in a karaoke bar.

  I heard from her elder sister that she had dreamed of being a PR girl since she was young because she thought it was an easy way to get money.

  Q: Do you get bored with the job?   A: It's for fun now. I really needed money when I first started doing it. But, I only work for only one or two days now when I want to.

  Q: Do you think about doing something else?   A: Yes, I want to study some more. But I don't know what. I only know I want to have better qualifications, because I cannot do this job for the rest of my life.

  Q: Do you think working in karaoke bar is a bad thing to do?   A: No, even being a prostitute is just a job.

  Q: Do you have a boyfriend?   A: Yes, but we're not very close. I see him only when I don't want to pay any money and want him to drive me to somewhere. He's quite rich.

  I want him to be with me when I'm bored. I don't love him.

  Q: How many boyfriends have you had?   A: Lots. My longest affair lasted for about two weeks.

  Q: Have you met any triads since working in karaoke bars?   A: Yes, I don't mind that. But I am not a triad member.

  Q: What are the good points about working in a karaoke?   A: It is good if you want to have fun. Also, you can get to know lots of people. And you can learn many things as well.

  Q: So, what are the bad points?   A: There aren't any. It all depends on how you work: if you let the clients do anything they want to you, it wouldn't be too good.

  Q: Do you feel embarrassed about the job?   A: At first, I was embarrassed when hairdressers asked me why I didn't have to work. I just told them my family was rich.

  Now, I don't mind letting people know what I do, and anyway all my friends are doing the same work.

  Q: Have you told your parents about your job?   A: No, they would kill me if they knew. Since I was young I've been telling them that I'm just going out to have fun.

  Q: Did they wonder where you got your money from?   A: Yes, but I just lied.

  Q: Do you feel unhappy about lying to your mother?   A: No, I've always done it. Anyway, it's better that she doesn't know the truth.

  Q: Do you talk to your father?   A: No. I only ask him for money when I am short of cash.

  Q: Do you have a good relationship with your parents?   A: Please don't ask about that.



Some girls let clients have sex with them in the karaoke room