Call me fatalistic. Call me rash. Tell me I'm jumping to conclusions. Names are insignificant, however, compared to harsh, cold facts. What worries me now are three seemingly unrelated reports from which I have drawn one portrait of Hong Kong society. The first report was that more than 2,400 people have tested positive for the HIV virus in Hong Kong and more than 700 cases of Aids have been confirmed since 1985. These figures may be low by international standards, but I'm concerned that these figures have risen at all. Statistics indicate that nearly 80 per cent of victims acquired the infection through sexual contact. Report number two stated that since June last year, 44 forged smart ID cards had been seized. I'm not too concerned about these cards as they can easily be identified as fakes. But they are symbolic of a larger phenomenon - that of other forms of fake ID, such as those used to enable under-aged people to drink or get into clubs and other age-restricted places. Too quick to assume the privileges of being an adult, many have forgotten the associated responsibilities. The third report involved a poll of more than 300 students from five local universities, which revealed the prevalence of a game called 'Happy Corner'. Thirty-seven per cent of the male population has engaged in the game during orientation camps or private parties. I don't want to go into the details, but the consequences are severe - reproductive capabilities could be affected. Newspapers can call this situation 'sexual harassment' but, in some cases, I'd go so far as to say that it constitutes 'assault'. What does all this mean? You might say fake IDs aren't a big deal. After all, they don't harm anyone, they just allow you to buy a drink or two. Alcohol is a means of encouraging social behaviour. It's the same with the games that university students play with their friends. These games sometimes lead to sex, often encouraged by the drinking of alcohol. You might say there is nothing wrong with that. You might think university students are educated and are aware of the risks of sexually transmitted diseases: they will not have unprotected sex and they will definitely use a condom and birth control. But that is not always true.
