Organisers want $1 million to promote a giant street parade and month-long carnival next year
Gay and lesbian organisations are seeking government funding to push forward a plan to create Hong Kong's first month-long celebration of gay pride.
Three groups have joined forces to draft a proposal to seek $1 million in funding to kick-start the event, which is tentatively scheduled for October next year.
The plans call for a 'Pride Hong Kong' celebration every two years, a month of activities that would include a street parade, outdoor party and educational forums. The goal is to bring together the gay and lesbian community in Hong Kong and attract international visitors.
'The gay community in Hong Kong offers a lot of potential,' said Reggie Ho Lai-kit, a freelance journalist who spearheaded the effort. 'We feel there isn't a force to join them together. We think by having a big-scale gay event we'll be able to gather strength in the gay community.'
Bangkok and Taipei are the only two Asian cities which have annual events similar to that proposed in Hong Kong. They attracted many people from Hong Kong each year and helped boost tourism, Mr Ho said.
Mr Ho is hoping to duplicate those successes in Hong Kong, where the tourism industry has been battered by the Sars outbreak.