Record rise in new HIV infections in second quarter
Health officials call for better sex education, after worrying spike in younger men infected
New HIV cases in Hong Kong hit a quarterly high of 131 - the most since the virus was identified in 1984 - with male homosexual contact cited as the main factor by health officials.
An Aids support group criticised the ease with which social media and mobile technology now facilitates online contact, which may lead to sexual encounters.
The changing dynamics of the city had allowed for more sexual contact in recent years, Aids Concern spokeswoman Panda Cheung Yin-mei said. "Under the influence of social media, it is much easier for homosexuals to find sexual partners online and through smartphone applications," Cheung said.
The new record, reached between April and June, brought the total of HIV infections to 5,523, the Health Department said. The previous biggest quarterly rise in cases - 125 - occurred in the third quarter of 2007.
There were 122 new cases between January and March this year.
"The first half of this year already shows more than 250 cases," said Dr Wong ka-hing, consultant at the Centre for Health Protection. "Following the trend, we might see more than 500 cases this year, exceeding last year's 438 recorded cases."