HK Sex Education is to Play Badminton

Education Bureau teaches kids not to have sex, play badminton

Teenagers are exploring sex, whether you like it or not, which is why sex education experts in the west suggest giving advice to them on how to protect themselves with birth control, and giving them resources so they are aware of sexually transmitted diseases.

A recent CBC Radio Vancouver call-in show had a sex educator on explaining it was important for parents to accept that their children were learning about sex through their friends or online and to be open to fielding questions from them or keeping communication channels open in case they get into trouble.

However, the Hong Kong government seems to be taking the denialist view, telling students not to engage in premarital sex, and curb their sexual desires by playing badminton.

Choi says sex ed teaches kids to "love themselves"

You read it right -- play badminton if you're feeling... cocky.

Online people had a field day or should we say court day with this, commenting that "playing badminton" should be the euphemism for having sex.

Despite outrage from critics and sex educators that this strategy for taming sexual desires was "out of touch" and "unrealistic", Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin dismiss these claims and insisted it was a valid way to "protect the juniors."

In a television interview, Choi said the purpose of sex education was to teach children to "love themselves, respect others and be responsible for themselves."

"Our approach is not conservative -- we wish to protect the young people and equip them with the right values to face adulthood and the complexity of society... and it's illegal to have sex with an underaged person," she added.

Indeed -- sex with a girl under the age of 16 can result in a penalty of five years in prison, and if the girl is under 13, the maximum sentence is life behind bars.

Lee supports Education Bureau sex ed advice

But the reality is, teens are having sex!

Meanwhile Lee weighed in, saying: "Although people could have very different opinions on value education, the government plays a leading role in determining the kind of society it aims to build through education.

"The education we provide should align with our visions, bringing us towards the kind of society, living environment and societal culture that we aspire to build... this is a continuous and collective effort."

Is Lee speaking from experience? He married Janet Lam Lai-sim when he was 22 years old and she was, by some reports 17 or younger...