Operators of online brothels are advertising prostitution services in English in an attempt to attract expatriate and foreign clients.
Senior police sources say the move could be an attempt to market Hong Kong as a cheap destination for sex tourists.
Several sex websites have been translated into English and offer thousands of women from Hong Kong, the mainland, Korea, Britain and France for an average hourly rate of $350.
One website operator, who refused to be identified, said triad bosses had turned to cyber-brothels for easy profits.
He said the women paid a fee of several hundred dollars each to register with the website. They were then photographed and graded on their appearance, attitude, experience and services offered.
Each link includes a detailed map of how to find a prostitute's apartment.
'We only just started offering the service in English about three weeks ago,' said the operator. 'This was more for the convenience of expats and overseas tourists ... we did not want to be seen to be discriminating.'
