2003-12-17 - 3:38 a.m.
(30 Dec 2003, SCMP) It can be generally agreed that the problems caused by inundation of prostitutes in some residential areas like Sham Shui Po and Mongkok, including general nuisance to residents, devaluation of property prices and association of gangs should be solved as soon as possible. But is the setting up of Red Light Zones the best mean to solve them? I do not think so.
On the surface, the setting up of Red Light Zones is able to reduce the nuisance caused by those seeking and providing prostitute services to the general public because the business is operated far away from residential areas. It may also help the government to tighten the control over illegal running of brothels, unreasonable exploitation on prostitutes by their boss and even to control the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases by regular and compulsory body checks for sex workers.
Yet, if we consider seriously the possibility of such a proposal, we can find that it is highly unrealistic. First, if the point of setting up of Red Light Zones is to move the operation of sex trade to some remote areas, then how can we be sure that these remote sites would be attractive sites for the business? Remember most of the prostitute-seekers buy their services because of convenience and availability of prostitute services nearby. On the other hand, how can we move all prostitutes to work in Red Light Zones? Can we guarantee them higher income and lower cost of production if they operate in the Zones? More importantly, currently most prostitutes are from mainland China and they do not stay here for a regular basis. Red Light Zones may only be attractive to local prostitutes who operate their own business on a long term basis. If illegal operations at the ��old markets�� in residential areas are not stamped out, then they will remain keen competitors to the newly established Red Light Zones which may render the efforts in setting up these zones futile.
The government will surely face a dilemma in implementing the proposal. On one hand, if she set up Red Light Zones in a high-profile manner, perhaps with glamorous advertisements and hyperbole, then it may invite charges that she is encouraging a morally undesirable if not illegal trade. It may also have negative effects on the international image of HK. On the other hand, if she just set up a Red Light Zones without any promotion, and try to keep the setting as low-profile as possible, then how can it achieve its designated aims? We may run the risk of another ��Poor Men��s Night Club�� tragedy in the Sheung Wan��s famous bazaar.
Perhaps what the government should do is to revise the present system of allowing sex trade on an individual basis while combating the running of brothels. We should first consider the possibility of tightening the control over pandering and limiting the amounts of mainland prostitutes by stricter immigration control. Setting up of Red Light Zones should be considered only if there is no better alternative. Even if it would be considered by the government, further researches and more extensive consultations must be carried out to collect public opinion over the policy on controlling prostitution, which may be an even more controversial issue than the notorious legalization of soccer betting.
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