A group of men from the Equal and Justice Association and the Love Family and Parents Association has filed a joint complaint with HK Equal Opportunities Commission on sexual discrimination by TVB’s Mr. Hong Kong 2010.

The men who among them include Legislative Council member Wong Kwok Hing felt that TVB’s all women judge panel was sex discrimination and the touching of the male contestant hands and legs by the judges constitute sex harassment.

“If this same behavior was performed by male judges at a Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant I am most certain that there will be accusation of indecent harassment or even a legal lawsuit.” He said.
In the last several years, they have already shown dissatisfaction towards TVB’s Mr . Hong Kong Male pageant and have asked for 10 tickets to the event. These requests were however ignored so in dissatisfaction they have started this formal complaint.

According to the Hong Kong Men’s group representative Mr John Wong, “I have been trying to secure tickets to the event for the past 3 years but have yet been able to receive any. This clearly contravenes the Sexual Discrimination Ordinance which bars special treatment between the sexes and the provision of goods, services or facilities based on sex. All their audience are female with the exception of a handful of VIP male spectators.”

In addition, the Ordinance also bars distinction based on a person’s marital status. Yes according to Mr HK 2010’s rules, only single men are allowed to participate in the contest.

The group complaint that both Mr Hong Kong and Miss Hong Kong contestants should be treated fairly in their programs and that both genders should be represented in the judging panel.

So far TVB’s production schedule has not been affected by the protest. Among the male pageant contestants William Chak (#10) who won the most “charming” award on the day of the promotional event responded to the protest on sexual discrimination responded: “I don’t mind the physical contact with the female judges, shaking of hands is a generous act and nothing sexual. As for the all female judges, each contest has their own requirements. As long it is a willing contestant there is nothing wrong about it.”

TVB Foreign Affairs Director, Mr Tsang Sing Ming has responded and said, that the studio event will maintain an all-female audience. However for the Olympian City and other scheduled promotional event venues , both men and women will be welcomed. TVB has listened to the public opinions, but maintain that the all-women audience is the program’s hallmark and maintain that they would continue with this original approach.

The winner of the Mr Hong Kong Contest 2010 will get to represent Hong Kong in the Mr World 2010 Contest, which was last held in South Korea with an eight-person judging panel which included members from both sexes. Mr World 2009’s judging panel included a former Mr World winner and a male fashion designer.

The winners are also offered a TV contract with TVB and promoted as TV stars. Judges are all women, and the winners of the contest are also determined by a public voting system based on scoring of about 700 female viewers.

Author Bio: Justin is a fan of Mr HK male pageant which is also known as 港男 and maintains the world largest boys love website.

Category: Entertainment
Keywords: mr hk, mr hongkong, mr hongkong 2010, 港男