Hong Kong is safe to visit, Gay Games team tells foreigners worrying about national security law
- Former security minister Regina Ip says fears of those refusing to come are ‘totally unwarranted’
- Games organisers are pressing on, and hope to hit their target of 3,000 participants for 18 events
Their concerns have come on top of recent calls by some LGBTQ activists in Hong Kong for the event to be cancelled, and protests by conservative groups.
With only four months to go, the organisers have pledged to press on, hoping to hit their target of 3,000 participants for the first edition of the games to be held in Asia.
United States-based Shamey Cramer, an honorary life member of the international Federation of Gay Games, told the Post there was “a safety and security issue” in Hong Kong.
“The US and other governments are warning of ‘arbitrary’ law enforcement that could pose a risk to travellers,” he said.
He said he wrote to the federation last year asking it not to allow Hong Kong to remain as host city, and pointed out that the national security law meant that anyone who had criticised the country in the past could be at risk if they visited.
“I still stand by what I said. Hong Kong is not the same city it was when it won the bid to host in 2016,” he said.
His concerns were echoed in a commentary last month by a Hong Kong group describing themselves as LGBTQ human rights activists, warning that anyone who had criticised Beijing or Hong Kong risked arrest upon arrival.
Australian Kate Rowe, 72, a former federation board member and organiser of the games’ 2002 edition in Sydney, said she would not be in Hong Kong for the event running November 3 to 11.
“There is a huge security risk,” she said. “If a bunch of Australians are on the streets waving rainbow flags, are they going to be prosecuted?”
In February, Out in HK, an LGBTQ sports community in the city, said their group was told by police to remove rainbow flags during the Hong Kong marathon, whereas spectators near them were allowed to hold up other flags.
Unpacking Hong Kong’s national security law, 3 years on
Former security minister Regina Ip, convenor of the city’s key decision-making body, the Executive Council, dismissed the concerns raised by those refusing to travel to Hong Kong.
“Such security concerns are totally unwarranted,” she said. “Since the implementation of the national security law, only 30 people have been convicted.”
The Hong Kong games organisers said they were telling potential participants that the city was safe to visit and had a low crime rate.
“At the same time, we also ask people to abide by local laws just as they would in their own country or region,” a spokesman said. “We will be happy to see participants display … the rainbow flag during the events so long it is done in a respectful manner.”
The Gay Games, which began in 1982, are held every four years. The last edition was held in Paris in 2018, attracting 10,000 participants.
The Hong Kong event was meant to be held last year, but was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the targeted number of participants was lowered.
The entire cost would be funded by sponsorship, private donations and participant fees, the organisers said.
As of July 5, there were 836 individuals registered with the international federation to take part.
The organisers said there were another 800 dragon boat paddlers and corporate registrants, bringing the total to 1,636 so far, and they were still aiming for 3,000 participants in 18 sports.
“We will work closely with venue managers and law enforcement agencies to provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for participants and the public,” a spokesman said.
A police spokesman said the force would work with organisers to ensure public events were conducted in an orderly and safe manner.
Asked whether those waving rainbow flags risked prosecution, the spokesman did not address the question directly, but said officers conducted comprehensive risk assessments of public events on a case-by-case basis and formulated corresponding policing plans.
“In conducting any operation, the police will act on the basis of actual circumstances and take resolute enforcement actions against any unlawful acts,” he said. “In any event, all individuals must act according to the law while carrying out any activities.”
The national security law targets secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
Hong Kong Gay Games organisers refuse to cancel event in face of activists’ warning
Meanwhile, there have been at least three recent instances of conservative groups protesting against the games being held in Hong Kong.
One resident who preferred to remain anonymous told the Post he saw three local women who gathered near the Polytechnic University campus on July 13 denounce the Games.
“There was a woman with a megaphone saying the Gay Games and gay culture were poisoning teenagers in Hong Kong,” he said.
Two other protests involving small groups happened this month, including one near the Legislative Council building.
People protesting at the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station on July 12 had a flier claiming they had support from 15 groups, mostly associated with churches.
The organisers said they did not believe these protests signalled growing opposition.
“We believe people are free to express their opinion as long as they do so legally and do not promote or condone violence or hate speech,” the spokesman said.
