Jerome Yau, chief executive of Aids Concern, a charity specialising in community health and responses to HIV/Aids, echoes these sentiments and urges further adoption and implementation of CSE in Hong Kong schools, including age-appropriate and accurate information.

“Research indicates that abstinence-only programmes promote shame and guilt about sex, and are ineffective in preventing early sexual activity. It does not improve young peoples’ health outcomes,” he said. Yau goes on to cite guidance issued by the World Health Organization, which concluded that such programmes can be “potentially harmful to young people’s sexual and reproductive health”.

Vera Lui is another of the city’s leading sex positivity advocates, having founded the sex positive intimate lifestyle store Sally Coco 14 years ago with her husband Picco Chu.

“Sex positivity is about embracing sexuality as a natural and healthy part of life,” says Lui. She sees this as including respect for one’s own boundaries, as well as those of others. Encouraging an inclusive approach to diverse expressions of sexuality, she says, “It’s also about fostering an environment where people can discuss sexual health openly and without shame.”

Lui describes Sally Coco as “an inclusive retail space for individuals exploring sexuality and pleasure without shame”. Since its founding, Lui and her husband have funded several campaigns to deliver CSE to communities across Hong Kong. Her aim, she says, is to “encourage open dialogue, challenge myths and provide resources for viewers, students and educators”.

Having long advocated for empowerment through sex positivity and education, Lui explains, “The emphasis on abstinence often overlooks the importance of comprehensive understanding. Sex education should prioritise awareness. This includes teaching about consent, healthy relationships, and the physiological and emotional aspects of sexuality.” She shares further concerns that focusing entirely on abstinence may not be without its risks. “We [can] miss the opportunity to equip young people with the tools they need to make informed decisions,” she says.

Lui challenges what she sees to be a common misconception that CSE promotes – or focuses entirely – on sex. “Yes, it teaches about the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality. But it also addresses psychological, social and emotional issues, promoting human rights, gender equality and cultural relevance,” she explains.

Having worked with children’s homes as well as primary, secondary and tertiary schools, Lui has helped to integrate and implement CSE programmes into multiple curriculums. “This has included developing modules on consent, safe sex practices, and understanding gender and sexual diversity. Interactive sessions and peer-led discussions have been particularly effective in engaging students,” she explains.

Lui’s firm advocacy of CSE in school settings stems from the ways in which it can empower youth with tools such as “critical thinking, communication and life skills to foster healthy relationships and social responsibility”. This, Lui continues, should equip young individuals with knowledge “and [help to] create a safe space for them to ask questions to make informed choices in the future”.

Similarly, Yau believes the primary goal of CSE should be to “provide students with scientific evidence-based and age-appropriate information, knowledge and skills about sex and sexuality, allowing them to make responsible and informed decisions in their lives”. He urges accordance with the World Health Organization’s International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education, which highlights the fundamental areas of learning including relationships, values, individual’s rights, and sexual and reproductive health.

Through his work with Aids Concern, Yau advocates for a sex positive approach. “Sex remains a taboo topic in our society. Sex – including sexual health – is a serious issue, and sex positivity entails maintaining an open, positive and non-judgmental attitude.”

Yau has worked with My Place, a social enterprise initiative run by Aids Concern – to promote sexual health and combat possible stigma around sexually-transmitted diseases across Hong Kong through classroom workshops, discussions and group activities. Working in collaboration with parents, teachers and social workers, Yau employs inclusive language and active learning techniques.

This is vital work as findings from the EOC report highlighted the importance of external organisations such as those helmed by Yau and Lui in sex education. And more than 93 per cent of schools had invited an external organisation to deliver and teach sex education.

However, such organisations still face obstacles to implementing sex positive programmes. “One more challenge is cultural sensitivity,” Lui explains. “There can be resistance from parents or institutions who hold traditional views on sex education.” And while Lui highlights the depth of understanding among many teachers and social workers, a lack of resources and adequate training can pose a significant barrier to implementing CSE programmes.

Additionally, says Lui, a focus on academic success can leave little room for other focuses, and there can at times be a lack of clarity on whether such discussions should be taking place at home or in an education setting. “I have met a lot of parents who want to provide a sex positive household for their kids, but they don’t know where to start or how to host those conversations. So sometimes they may count on the school to do it. But the school also counts on the parents to start the conversation. And it ends up with no one doing it.”

Most importantly, Yau urges a reconsideration of school delivery. “In particular, the preoccupation with sex and sexual behaviour,” which he sees as “both misguided and counterproductive.”

Yau identifies the lack of resources necessary to lay the foundations of a new curriculum-based CSE programme as a key barrier to achieving this. Ultimately, he says, “The emphasis should be on providing young people with information that will enable them to grow up healthy and thrive.”