Three in four parents against gay rights, finds poll by conservative Christian group
Conservative Christian group finds traditional views are heading for conflict with the young and liberal; but research method is questioned
Hong Kong is a stronghold for traditional marriage and family values, with up to 75 per cent of parents holding negative views on gay-rights issues, research by a conservative Christian group indicates.
But the Society for Truth and Light said a more liberal trend was noted among younger parents which could eventually lead to conflict with traditional values.
The survey was called into question by a gay-advocacy group which said the society might have used biased questions to get the result it wanted.
The society's Centre for Life and Ethics Studies interviewed 2,096 parents from 12 kindergartens and primary and secondary schools by questionnaire between August and February.
It found that 60 per cent to 75 per cent of respondents did not want Hong Kong to allow same-sex marriage or adoption, same-sex couples to use artificial insemination or surrogacy, or partners to enjoy benefits "as if they were married".
"At the moment, many parents still see traditional marriage as very important," the centre's research officer, Michael Chan Wing-ho, said. "But we also see a trend of younger parents tending to be more open and agree with political requests by the gay rights movement. We can expect inevitable conflicts between them and traditional values."
About 60 per cent of respondents were atheists and 22 per cent Christians; 70 per cent were secondary-school graduates and 23 per cent had received higher education.