I would like to
express my views regarding the problems of compensated dating. According to the
survey conducted by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of
Hong Kong, compensated dating has become more widespread in Hong Kong. Recently
girls are finding new ways to find clients including through online games. It
deteriorates the problem critically. In this letter, I will suggest several
contributing factors leading to this problem, followed by suggesting solutions
in accordance to the problem.
In my view, one
main reason for the emergence of compensated dating is the rewards for their
companionship. Teenage girls have no financial income generally, except their
pocket money from their parents. However, due to the mass media, their desires
become more luxurious and beyond their ability to pay. In an attempt to get
what they want, they choose to make money at the expense of their moral and
body. The girls who participate in compensated dating can earn about HK$1,000
for each date which usually last two hours, said by Ah Yan, a girl having the
experience.
In an effort to
tackle the problem of compensated dating, I think the school should place more
emphasis on educating the teenage girls about the citizenship and the morality.
Schools should not only focus on the academic results of the students, but also
cultivate their moralities and enhance their self-esteem. Also, the schools
should train the analytic skills of the students to think properly under the
influences of the mass media, preventing them from being materialistic. If it
works, teenage girls will not earn money by using their body, contrarily they
will respect themselves more and have a proper thought on their lives.
The other
contributing factor to the emergence of compensated dating is the misconception
about the compensated dating. The young women believe that compensated dating
differs from sex work because they have a choice of clients. They think that
they can judge the patrons merely by their appearance and brief conversations
on the platforms. And the girls also think that compensated dating is legal in
Hong Kong.
Actually, in
compensated dating, more often than not, sex is involved, making this to be
another word for prostitution. Prostitution is illegal in Hong Kong and some
existing laws can be applied to charge compensated dating, including “Soliciting
for any immoral purpose.” Lam, from sex workers’ concern group, warns that it
is dangerous to judge patrons merely by their appearance and there is nothing
to protect them from violence. To rectify the misconceptions, the government
should strengthen the promotion and hold more talks about the concert ideas of
compensated dating.
In conclusion, to
tackle the problem of compensated dating, there is no other option but to
educate the younger and enhance the promotion. We hope there will be no more
girls involved in compensated dating and those involved can get back on the
right track.
Yours faithfully,
Pat Chan
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