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LettersGay rights in Hong Kong need more than Ossan’s Love to thrive: make it law
- The government’s ambiguous attitude towards same-sex relationships is undoubtedly an obstacle to progress on equal rights
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I am writing in response to your poll question in the Letters to the Editor page on July 27, and would like to express my views regarding on attitudes towards same-sex relationships in Hong Kong.
The ViuTV romcom Ossan’s Love, depicting the still-taboo topic in the city, was a huge hit, with fans ranging from youngsters to the middle-aged.
The series achieved a viewership rating of 6.4 in its first week, peaking at 8.7 points, indicating a relatively wide audience base. Public acceptance of LGBT groups or sexual minority rights, however, does not seem to extend much further.
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Influenced by traditional Chinese cultural values, the standpatters believe that a family must without doubt be formed by two people of opposite sexes, with procreation lying at the heart of the debate.
Those opposed to same-sex relationships or same-sex marriage often put the city’s low-birth rate in the spotlight, arguing it is the responsibility of couples to reproduce, a duty which same-sex partners cannot naturally fulfil.
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Given that the freedom of marriage rights often shows the openness of a region, how can Hong Kong sustain its reputation as “Asia’s World City” when it cannot further accept and protect the rights of this minority?
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