HONG KONG children are sexually mature at an earlier age than many children in Western countries, according to a comprehensive survey to be released tomorrow.
The findings contradicted the traditional belief of many people in Hong Kong, said Dr Sophie Leung Suk-fong, a senior lecturer in paediatrics at the Chinese University, who will be releasing the survey.
She refused to go into details of the research, but said it had surprised her.
'Although sex has always been a controversial topic in Hong Kong, early sexual maturation means the Government should include sex education in school curriculum in lower classes.
'Individual counselling should be given to those who mature at an extremely early age,' she said.
About 25,000 people under 18 were interviewed in the year-long poll, which also revealed that at least one in 10 children and teenagers were over-weight.