XN000022-1990-07-11 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1990

1990

HOMOSEXUALITY NOT A DISEASE

THE PRESENT LAWS SHOULD BE CHANGED SO THAT NO PARTICULAR INJUSTICE IS DONE TO A SECTION OF THE POPULATION OVER WHOSE SEXUAL INCLINATION

HAVE NO CONTROL, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THEY

TOLD

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF A MOTION ON THE DECRIMINALISATION OF

SAID THAT HOMOSEXUAL ACTS, DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG

HOMOSEXUALITY PER SE WAS ONLY A VARIATION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND NOT A DISEASE.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOMOSEXUALITY AND AIDS, ON

DR LEONG

WAS IT

MOST MISLEADING TO ARGUE THAT A LAW

MADE WHICH

OF HOMOSEXUALITY A CRIME COULD PROTECT THE PUBLIC AGAINST THE SPREAD

SAID

AIDS.

HE HELD THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF CONTROLLING AIDS WAS THROUGH EDUCATION.

"THE TASK OF MAKING SURE THAT THOSE WHO MOST NEED THIS

LAW IT COULD BE MADE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BY A EDUCATION GET

WHICH PREVENTS OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AND DRIVES THE HOMOSEXUAL COMMUNITY UNDERGROUND, HE ADDED.

STRESS

]]

DR LEONG SAID MANY HOMOSEXUALS WERE SUBJECTED TO CONSIDERABLE AS A RESULT OF STRONG DISAPPROVAL OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE CONDEMNATION OF HOMOSEXUALITY BY RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY AND CERTAIN DRACONIAN LAW SECTIONS FORCING THEM TO KEEP THEIR SEX LIVES SECRET.

DR LEONG ALSO OUTLINED THE STANDPOINT OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN RELATION TO THE EXISTING LAW.

THAT

HE SAID THE HONG KONG MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HELD THE VIEW CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR HOMOSEXUAL ACTS IN PRIVATE BETWEEN CONSENTING ADULTS SHOULD BE REMOVED, AND THAT THE PRESENT LAW DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THE MALE HOMOSEXUALS AS FEMALE HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITIES OCCURRING IN PRIVATE WERE NOT PUNISHABLE BY LAW.

THE ASSOCIATION ALSO HELD THAT PUNISHMENT FOR BUGGERY WITHOUT CONSENT SHOULD BE THE SAME AS PUNISHMENT FOR RAPE WHILE PUNISHMENT FOR INDECENT ASSAULT IN HOMOSEXUAL ACTS SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THE PUNISHMENT FOR INDECENT ASSAULT ON FEMALES.

"I WANT TO EMPHASISE HERE THAT THE POSITION OF THE HONG KONG MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SHOULD IN NO WAY BE TAKEN TO IMPLY THAT WE CONDONE HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITIES, DR LEONG ADDED.

"I

THE HON JIMMY MCGREGOR, WHO IS IN EUROPE, HAD ASKED DR LEONG TO INFORM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT HE SUPPORTED THE PROPOSAL DECRIMINALISE HOMOSEXUAL ACTS.

ΤΟ

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